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Duke & Cooke Property News |
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Published on: 3rd January 2009 DISBELIEF AT RISE IN TASMAN VALUATION DISBELIEF AT RISE IN TASMAN VALUATIONNew valuations for Tasman district farms are ridiculously high and will make rates unaffordable, says district councillor Stuart Borlase. Tasman district property owners are getting their new government valuations in the post this week. Overall, there has been a 13 per cent increase in GVs, but the biggest rise is for dairy properties, which have risen, on average, 69 per cent in land value and 56 per cent in capital value, on which rates are based. Mr Borlase said that since then, there had been the credit crunch and a fall in the forecast milk payout, which affected dairy farmers. However, QV rural valuer Hugh Fitzgibbon said this would not be a justification for a review, because the valuations were assessed as at September 1. Property owners have until February 13 to object to their new valuations. (The Nelson Mail, Wednesday 7 January 2009) STEADY PROGRESS ON GO-IT-ALONE PROJECTThe shell of the $5.6 million Headingly Centre in Richmond’s lower Queen St is nearly complete. The centre, which will include a 630-seat auditorium when it is finished, is being built by Grace Church. Project coordinator Ken Polglase said it had taken the church a bit longer than planned to complete the first stage of the project, but the organisation was still happy overall at the way work was progressing. He said about 400 people attended an opening night at the complex a few weeks ago and many were surprised at the scale of the project. The building features a wide foyer in front of a wide auditorium that sits in the middle of the building. A number of multipurpose meeting rooms will be built in the wings at each end of the building. The entire structure is noticeably larger than the Annesbrook church buildings in Stoke. (The Nelson Mail, Wednesday 7 January 2009) TALLEYS BUILD LARGE DWELLINGThe multimillionaire Talley family have begun work on a large “over-height and non-typical” three-bedroom dwelling on the same property as their helicopter company, behind Motueka. Tasman District Council regulatory manager Jean Hodson confirmed the council had granted resource consent for a new three-level house, a pool house, and a 562-square metre garage with workshop at 226 Chamberlain St for the Talley Family Trust. In addition, a building consent had been issued for a new garage, retaining walls, and waste water system on the property, she said. (The Nelson Mail, Wednesday 7 January 2009) NEW VALUATIONS BEING CHALLENGEDA Brightwater couple want the public to speak out against new property valuations that they fear will lead to unaffordable rates. Mac and Naomi McIntyre want to hear from others and organise a public meeting. Tasman district property owners are receiving their new valuations in the post this week. Overall, there has been a 13 per cent increase in values, with dairy farm owners hardest hit with an average 56 per cent rise in capital value. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 9 January 2009) PIPFRUIT GLUT PUTS HEAT ON MARKETPipfruit growers face a potential oversupply in their export markets that could drive down prices. New Zealand apple exports brought in a bumper $390 million last year, with a shortage of supply keeping prices up. However, this year it is completely the opposite, with a full market, says Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Ian Palmer, of Upper Moutere. Northern and Southern Hemisphere producers had full crops, which meant a potential oversupply, he said. Nelson also has a full crop of 5.5 million to 6 million boxes. Last season, New Zealand exported 14.6 million boxes, but this year the crop is estimated at 15.5 million to 16 million. A problem is that Washington state in the United States, a major apple producer, has a record crop of more than 113 million boxes. “It’s a huge record, by eight million,” Mr Palmer said. The European Union also has a crop, with a big harvest in Germany. Globally, the impact of the economic downturn was a bit of an unknown, he said. Data showed that in the US, there had been a 3.7 per cent drop in the restaurant trade but people were eating at home, and this meant fruit and vegetable sales were up 10 per cent. He believed that Nelson export industries had already had it tough with the high exchange rate. “We’ve had our tough times and we are probably better prepared to withstand the downturn because we have done it. Nelson generally is sitting in a pretty positive place right now.” (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 10 January 2009) RAILWAY HOTEL BACK IN BUSINESS, FOR NOWRichmond’s historic Railway Hotel is reopening its doors, ironically thanks to the economic downturn. It was revealed last year that a new Robbies Bar and Bistro would be replacing the hotel, which has occupied the corner of Queen St and Gladstone Rd for more than 125 years. The hotel shut several months ago in anticipation of the development, which was to include new retail space and be operational by Christmas. Christchurch-based lessee Alan Roberts said the developers wanted to get 50 per cent of the complex leased before starting demolition and had “quite a few interested parties” but none that were prepared to commit themselves in the current market. Mr Roberts said the developers were still confident the plan would proceed, but he had decided to reopen one bar and some backpacker accommodation in the hotel to pay the bills in the meantime. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 10 January 2009) MAYOR HAPPY TO FRONT ON VALUATION ISSUESTasman district Mayor Richard Kempthorne is willing to front up to any meeting of ratepayers worried about new property valuations and potential rate rises. Brightwater couple Mac and Naomi McIntyre want the public to speak out on the issue after receiving their new property valuations this week. Overall, there has been a 13 per cent increase in values in Tasman district, with dairy farm owners facing the biggest increases with an average 56 per cent rise in capital value. Mr Kempthorne said if ratepayers wanted a meeting, he would be happy to discuss the issues. The McIntyres and farmers have voiced concerns that rate rises will be unaffordable. Mr Kempthorne said ratepayers whose property valuation matched the average would see no change in their rates. If the valuation was less than the average, they would have a rates reduction, but if it was more than the average, their rates would rise. He acknowledged that dairy farmers were worst affected and had been hit hard. The property valuations were set at September 1 last year, and rates based on them will be struck in July this year. Concerns have also been voiced at the valuations being based on potential activities for the properties, such as tourism operations on farms. Mr Kempthorne said it was hard to see what different systems could be used, but it was logical to base valuations on the actual activity on the property. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 10 January 2009) SOUNDS ISLAND STILL ON MARKETWant to buy your own island paradise in the Marlborough Sounds? There’s still time. Puangiangi Island, near d’Urville Island, has been on the market for almost 2½ years. While a sale contract was drafted with an interest buyer in November, the island was still on the market, Bayleys waterfront specialist Scott Engstrom said. The 63-hectare island, which is part of the Rangitoto chain and boasts two sandy beaches, a two-bedroom bach and a helicopter pad, is for sale for $5 million. There is a QEII covenant on the island’s native bush. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 10 January 2009) AMBITIOUS PLAN TO REVIVE WETLANDA blend of engineering and science is contributing to the planned regeneration of a natural wetland environment in north Nelson. The two-part Nelson City Council and Department of Conservation programme has been designed to create an enticing habitat for New Zealand native bird species, and extra room for the long-haul flyers – godwits – during their Kiwi summer stopovers. The sandflats are one of the largest esplanade-foreshore reserves managed by the council, and cover an old estuarine mudflat and saltmarsh wetland area. The Wakapuaka wetlands development is a two-stage one involving the creation of two “wetland cells” on the area nearest to the oxidation ponds, and enhancement of the eastern area, which borders DOC reserve land. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 20 January 2009) |
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This publication is compiled by Duke & Cooke Ltd, valuation and property specialists. The information contained within this newssheet has been obtained from various local sources and no responsibility is held for any parties relying on the accuracy of this information without obtaining independent verification. To contact us regarding circulation of this service: Phone +64 (03) 5489104, Fax +64 (03) 5468668, or email: admin@valuersnelson.co.nz |