COUNCIL SEEKS ISLAND ROAD SOLUTION

The construction of a road on Best Island could lead Tasman District Council to the Environment Court, but legal costs are already allocated in the $335,000 budget councillors have approved for the project. It was decided at the latest council meeting to consider the Public Works Act as a means of obtaining private land to build a road on the island, giving 34 residents on the eastern side legal access to their properties. The residents bought their properties knowing the sea was their only legal access point, but there had been a longstanding agreement between two landowners and residents allowing them to use a private driveway. The two landowners have offered their land for the road for $450,000, but previous council valuations estimate the cost of land and building the road to be $200,000. Residents, who will meet a large portion of the cost of the road, said the landowners’ offer was too high and they would be willing to pay $7000 per household rather than $15,000, with $170,000 going towards land purchase. Eighty per cent of residents agreed on the amount, which is still more than the amount the council expected of them.

(The Nelson Mail Monday, March 16, 2015)

NEW WOODBURNER RULES

Frustrations and concerns about facing another cold winter in old, damp homes were aired at a public meeting on woodburners in Nelson. Around 60 people turned out to voice their opinions over Nelson’s woodburner regulations at Monday’s meeting held by the Nelson City Council, and although the chance for relaxation of the rules was presented, the timeframe for change left many disillusioned. The plan change process, which the council must go through to change the stringent regulations, is expected to take until February 2017 if there is unanimous support, and could take until December 2017 if there are opposing submissions and hearings and appeals are needed. That means the next three winters could be spent with the current regulations. Despite the positive testing of the ultra-low emission burners, they cannot be installed in Nelson until there are changes to the air quality plan. The current cost of an ultra-low emission burner is around $10,000 plus installation. There are hopes of cheaper ones being released over the next year.

(The Nelson Mail Tuesday, March 17, 2015)

CHOPPER SPEEDS UP FENCE BUILD

Almost a quarter of the fencing supplies required for the pest proof fence at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary have been delivered to the site by helicopter. About 8000 posts will be used in the construction of the 14.5 kilometre fence, which began last October and is expected to be completed by next winter. Project co-ordinator Rick Field said about 2km of the fence had been completed. A helicopter has been carrying fence posts, strainers, aluminium hoods and other materials to the site to allow construction workers from Xcluder and Higgins Fencing to continue building the fence. HNZ New Zealand has sponsored a helicopter and pilot use for the project and Air BP has come to the party with fuel sponsorship, which is much appreciated by the trust, said Brook Sanctuary general manager Hudson Dodd. ‘‘It is a pretty phenomenal donation,’’ said Field. The tracks in and around the Brook stream water catchment are closed between 7am and 5pm during weekdays to allow for construction. Additional information about track closures can be found at brooksanctuary.org/news/trackclosures.

(The Nelson Mail Tuesday, March 17, 2015)

STRONG BUILDING SECTOR TIPPED TO DRIVE GROWTH

The economy is expected to keep growing solidly in the next two years, supported by a strong home building sector, according to the latest consensus forecasts. The NZIER’s latest survey of eight groups including banks, Treasury and the Reserve Bank shows growth of 3.3 per cent is expected for the March 2015 year, the same as in the December survey. But growth is expected to taper slightly to 2.9 per cent in the following March year, slightly weaker than expected three months ago. Growth in the March 2017 year is expected to be 2.8 per cent, much stronger than expected in the last survey. Strong home building has been a key factor in economic growth, driven by demand in Canterbury and Auckland.

(The Nelson Mail Wednesday, March 18, 2015)

CREEK GETS DESIGNER MAKEOVER

Richmond’s Borck Creek is being developed as a designer lowland waterway and stormwater path as part of the wider Richmond West development plan. Tasman District Council contractors finished preparing the 70-metre-wide swale, built between Lower Queen St and the Waimea Estuary, last week and diverted Borck Creek into its new course on Wednesday. Council project manager Chris Blythe said the development would take place progressively in order to meet budgets. It was envisaged the new waterway would feature meanders, ripples, ‘‘islands’’, wetlands, and pathways, as well as carrying stormwater from the creek’s 1400-hectare hill catchment to the estuary. ‘‘My job is to get the wishlist into something that is affordable,’’ Blythe said. The completed greenway would cost just under $1 million.

(The Nelson Mail Friday, March 20, 2015)

"THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK"

                                         TEAMWORK

                                        divides the task

                                      and multiplies the

                                            SUCCESS

Duke & Cooke Property News is a clipping service publication compiled by Duke & Cooke Ltd, valuation and property specialists. The information contained within this newssheet are excerpts of property-related articles from current local news sources. Full attribution is given for the source of the extracts in order that the reader may refer to the source articles for full information. As this publication is a clipping service only, the articles included do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Duke & Cooke, and these items are included impartially and objectively.