Nelson leading regional economy
Nelson is leading a nationwide boom in construction, a new report shows.
Nelson and Tasman have taken out the two top spots as New Zealand’s best-performing regions in the latest ASB/Main Report Regional Economic Scoreboard.
ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny said the December 2016-quarter report revealed Nelson had risen from second place and was also doing well in the construction, tourism, horticulture and viticulture sectors. Tasman had jumped four places to sit second.
Penny said in terms of residential and non-residential construction, the December 2016 quarter was up 83 per cent from Dec 2015 and that figure stood out as a ‘‘whopper’’.
(The Nelson Mail, Monday 13 March 2017)
Final touches for Trafalgar Centre
The Trafalgar Centre is nearly ready to rumble.
A series of Nelson Giants basketball games, the first being this Saturday, are among the events scheduled following the venue’s restrengthening and redevelopment.
The centre is having the finishing touches completed, following a final round of funding at the end of last year.
A report to the council in December had the project coming in at $16.6m, including the $3m upgrade for Rutherford Park.
The centre, Nelson’s main indoor venue, was abruptly closed in December 2013 because of earthquake risk and the council had set a re-opening target of February 28.
It partially re-opened last year.
Nelson City Council project manager Richard Kirby said while it began as a project to get the building up to earthquake standards, the council had taken the opportunity to make further upgrades to the facility.
This included creating a new main entrance in what’s referred to as the ‘‘northern building’’.
The new open-plan space features cedar panelling, a brand new commercial kitchen, and patio areas for functions that need outdoor space.
A Trafalgar Centre Family Day is planned for April 8, and people are invited to bring a picnic and have a look around the refurbished venue.
They’ll be able to poke their noses into the new green rooms, test out the basketball courts, and see a timelapse video of the facility’s construction.
Mayor Rachel Reese will also officially open the centre on April 8 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
(The Nelson Mail, Monday 13 March 2017)
Luxury apartments snapped up
Buyers from home and abroad are splashing out on Nelson seaside living, snapping up nearly half of the planned multimillion-dollar Ocean View apartments.
Bayleys Nelson real estate agents said four of the 16 pre-sold Ocean View apartments were penthouse suites valued between $1.75 million and $1.85 million.
Since August last year, the fivestory block tagged for Beach Rd, Tahunanui, has seen a few adjustments with the number of dwellings dropping from 39 to 37 and prices rising from $470,000-$1.4m to $645,000-$1.86m lots.
But buyers are honing in on the five-storey Wakatu Incorporated design overlooking Tahunanui Recreation Reserve, which is being sold in two phases.
The complex is aimed at the ‘‘higher-value sector of the market’’ and contains a mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences accessed from both Beach Rd and Waikare St and features a gymnasium and private outdoor swimming pool.
Ocean View is one of the Special Housing Area (SHA) developments along with the Betts car park site in central Nelson which hit the market last December.
The development on the corner of Trafalgar and Nile streets was named Betts Corner and will include 14 residences in a fourstorey layout.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday 15 March 2017)
Families forced out of Motueka
A housing crisis in Motueka is forcing some families to leave the town, say community leaders.
A severe lack of rentals, emergency accommodation and affordable housing in Motueka has spurred a new group to lobby local and central government for help. Parklands School principal Jacques Munroe said the lack of housing was forcing some families to leave, even as a number of others were attracted to the area. ‘‘I know of at least one family living in a caravan park and I’m getting weekly enquiries about international students from families wanting to stay here.
The accommodation crisis sparked a meeting of community and government social services on Monday. The group plans to urge the Tasman District Council to consider the issue of social housing in Motueka, establish a register of homeowners willing to rent out spare rooms and sleepouts and investigate if the former Phyllis Moffatt Hospital could be used for accommodation.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday 16 March 2017)
Thought for the Week
Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
(Benjamin Disraeli)