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Duke & Cooke Property News |
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Published on: 20th April 2009 ORCHARD MAIN COMPLAINT OF PARK ORCHARD MAIN COMPLAINT OF PARKA proposal to plant heritage apple trees as part of a proposed $1 million waterfront park in Mapua has sparked debate between Tasman district councillors on the merits of an orchard being grown on a public reserve. The trees are among the plans for the park to be sited at the old Fruit Growers Chemical Company site. The heritage apple trees were intended to be symbolic of the site’s history. Public consultation over the plans, which includes an amphitheatre and promenade, has finished, and the community’s feedback was discussed at Thursday’s community services committee meeting. (The Nelson Mail, Monday 13 April 2009) AIR QUALITY STANDARDS TO CHANGE?The Government plans to review air quality standards but Nelson should keep pushing for conversion to clean home heating, says Environment Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith. The review was aimed at making the standards more workable for places such as Nelson, he said. Several problems had been raised about the national air quality standard, particularly its enforcement and the impact on some resource consents. The standard, introduced in 2006, requires a progressive reduction in air pollution by 2013. “I’m saying to councils like Nelson and Christchurch, get on with the work of reducing household air pollution because while there is a review it will not change the direction of requiring air-quality improvements and the push for conversion to clean home heating,” Dr Smith said. In Nelson city, the use of old enclosed burners will be banned in many areas from the end of this year. In Richmond, after a house is sold an existing non-compliant wood burner cannot be used, and new houses are not allowed to have wood burners. (The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 14 April 2009) TASMAN CYCLEWAY TO GET AN AIRINGA visionary plan for a 200-kilometre cycle route loop in the Nelson region will be discussed by Tasman District councillors tomorrow. Two Nelson businessmen, Peter Bone and Steve Waring, are behind the Tasman Bay Cycle Route, which proposes a loop, starting and ending in Nelson and passing through Motueka, Tapawera, Brightwater and Wakefield. Council engineering manager Peter Thomson said the rail trail had been supported in principle by the council’s engineering services committee last year, but questions remained on how to make it happen and how to fund it. The council’s draft 10-year plan contained plans for a cycleway between Richmond and Brightwater, which would probably be the first stage of developing the rail trail, he said. (The Nelson Mail, Wednesday 15 April 2009) WATERSPORT COURSE PLAN RAISES FEARSEnvironmentalists are accusing the Tasman District Council of trying to push through a proposed $6 million watersport course on Rabbit Island, which they fear could have a major impact on the island and the neighbouring Waimea Inlet. Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne says it is just a proposal and no promises have been made behind closed doors to fast-track the development. The council has earmarked $3.1 million in its draft long-term plan towards the 2.5km watersport course, which a trust wants to excavate towards the Mapua side of the island. What’s proposed? Digging a 2.5km long, 135m wide and 3.5m deep eight-land course at the western end of Rabbit Island. It would fill from a channel at the Mapua end of the island, and would be flushed by tides when not in use. How much will it cost? Initially costed at $6 million, but the final cost is expected to be higher. When is it hoped to be ready by? The trust hopes to have it built by 2014. Who will use it? What is the Tasman Aquatic Multi-Sport Development Trust? (The Nelson Mail, Thursday 16 April 2009) PLANS FOR RICHMOND FACILITY TAKING SHAPEPlans for a proposed 600-seat community centre in Richmond are slowly unfolding, with a wish-list on its proposed structure due to go before Tasman district councillors today. The Tasman District Council has earmarked $1.5 million in its draft 10-year plan for the multi-purpose centre, which it hopes a community organisation or group will come forward to jointly fund. Today, councillors were to consider a recommendation to appoint a subcommittee to oversee the project and consider expressions of interest from community groups. (The Nelson Mail, Thursday 16 April 2009) ‘NO RUSH’ ON RICHMOND CENTRE PLANSTasman councillors have been told not to rush the process on the proposed Richmond community centre. Tasman district councillors discussed a list of features for the proposed 600-seat centre yesterday after receiving a report on it, but Deputy Mayor Tim King said the council needed to “back the truck up”. “My view is to receive the report, let it lie and wait until after the draft annual plan process.” The district council has set aside $1.5 million in its draft plan for the multi-purpose centre. It hopes a community organisation or group will come forward to jointly fund it. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 17 April 2009) PROPERTY WATCHSite blessing Wakatu Incorporation blessed its new $15 million St Vincent St building this week in preparation for Harvey Norman to begin trading there on June 15. Dozens of guests who attended the ceremony on Wednesday were told the 8300sq m building was the organisation’s single biggest investment to date. “Whilst we’re in a recession, Wakatu Incorporation is investing in the future,” chairman Paul Morgan said. The site was purchased 30 years ago and it has taken more than six years for the development to come to fruition. Chief executive Keith Palmer said Harvey Norman fortunately “had the foresight to pick the best site” when faced with a choice between Wakatu’s development and the Honda site at Stoke, which has also been earmarked for large retailers. KB’s outlet closed KB’s Bakery is no longer operating at Richmond Mall. Owner/operator Todd Goring closed it when the lease expired at the end of March. Rent and mall fees were “astronomical”, he said. “It wasn’t worth it for the turnover we were doing. I’m breathing a sigh of relief now we’re out of the mall.” Mr Goring also owns the KB’s Bakery shops in Nayland Rd, Stoke, and Hardy St, Nelson. Village buoyant Townhouses in the Ernest Rutherford Retirement Village continue to attract strong buyer interest with five selling in one day on March 31 and six sales settling this week, sales advisor Debbie Edward said. During the last year, 80 townhouses have sold in the village. People buy the properties off plans and there are currently only five still available, starting at $289,000 for a two-bedroom home. Ms Edwards said she didn’t know how many more properties might come onstream. The company was constantly looking for more land in Nelson and other regions throughout New Zealand, she said. Offshore interest A brand new “executive style” four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 8 Heemskerck Place on the Tahunanui Hills has been sold through Harcourts agent Marcus Thorn for “around $700,000” to buyers from the United Kingdom. Mr Thorn said overseas buyers seemed to be showing increased interest in the local market right now, with some even buying properties unseen. The Heemskerck Place property failed to sell at auction and was on the market for about 12 weeks. Aussies cross over Green Door Real Estate has noticed increased buyer interest during the last month, notably from Australians looking to invest or settle in the region, managing director Gary Le Petit said. Three of its recently sold properties were bought by Australians. During the first week of April, Green Door had six property sales go unconditional, with all of them selling above their rateable values and close to, or at, the asking price, Mr Le Petit said. A property at 12 Wordsworth Place, Stoke that was listed at $340,000, another at 159 Princes Drive listed at $352,000 and a five-bedroom home in Taupata St listed at inquiries over $465,000 were on the market for less than three weeks, he said. Jeweller next door Richmond’s Rod Clark Jewellers is shifting into a new Croucher St store that used to be part of the neighbouring Copper Frog giftware shop. Rod Clark Jewellers part owner Kerensa Clark said the lease expired on their Queen St premises, prompting them to think about the future direction of their business. “Given the current economic climate, retail’s not really happening.” The new shop was smaller and enabled the business to focus more on manufacturing and repairs. The retail component would be much smaller but more high quality, she said. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 18 April 2009) DID YOU KNOW?Duke & Cooke’s independent valuations can be used for financial reporting. |
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