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Duke & Cooke Property News |
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Published on: 13th July 2009 REVALUATION SETS SCENE FOR RATES SHOCK REVALUATION SETS SCENE FOR RATES SHOCKSome Tutaki Valley farmers are expecting a staggering 69 per cent rate rise this year, an increase the council expects to get some "flak" about, according to Tasman district councillor Stuart Bryant. The rate bills received by Tasman property owners in the mail next month will vary dramatically, with Tutaki Valley farmers hit hardest, and some coastal Tasman lifestylers let off lightest. Of the five properties the Tasman District Council released rate comparisons on, rate rises for properties varied from a 3.39 per cent rise for a residential Takaka home worth $270,000, to a 68.79 per cent rise for a pastoral farm in the Tutaki Valley near Murchison worth $3.1 million - a $3179 rates increase. Properties which will get relief include some lifestyle coastal Tasman properties, with a property worth $900,000 getting a $112.63 or 4.14 per cent reduction on its rates bill. Rate rises across the Tasman District Location Capital value Rate increase Percentage (The Nelson Mail, Monday 6 July 2009) CLEAR SPLIT IN HOUSE SALESMid-priced and expensive houses are proving hard to sell while buyers use lower mortgage rates to snap up cheaper homes, monthly property sales figures suggest. Market experts say a clear split has emerged in the housing market since interest rate deals began tempting buyers in autumn. Nelson is performing better than the national figures, showing a 5.2 per cent decline, while Tasman property values are 7.4 per cent down. (The Nelson Mail, Monday 6 July 2009) CREATURE COMFORTS AT NEW POUNDUnderfloor heating will be one of the comforts for stray or dumped dogs in Tasman district once a new pound is completed. Tasman District Council animal control officer Phil Bergman said the new animal shelter was well overdue and would be a far cry from the current pound, from which dogs could escape. The new shelter is costing the council about $250,000, and will have underfloor heating so dogs do not feel too chilly lying on the concrete floors in winter - meaning they probably won't want to escape either. The shelter will also have internet access to post dog details on the council's website, a kitchen, and an examination room for dogs. The new shelter, which is being built in Beach Rd, Richmond, is expected to be finished in mid-August. It will have 12 dog pens, a puppy pen, and two isolation pens for diseased dogs. (The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 7 July 2009) FUNERAL PROJECT REJECTEDCrematorium bid fails Consent to build a controversial crematorium at Hope's Gardens of the World has been declined, and the funeral home owner behind the plan says he has not decided whether to appeal the "gut wrenching" decision. The Tasman District Council has turned down an application by Francis Day, of Marsden House funeral home, to establish a crematorium at the popular Hope gardens. Reasons cited for the rejection include productivity issues, land fragmentation, traffic safety, noise and the negative effects on rural character. Despite some nearby residents being concerned about mercury levels and emissions - some labelling the proposed crematorium the "Garden of Emissions" - these were of lesser concern in the final decision. The application also sought to develop and operate a chapel, cafe and reception area. Gardens of the World was bought by Mr Day's family trust last year, which then sought resource consent to develop a gas-fired crematorium at the Clover Rd East property. The application prompted objections from neighbours, with the council receiving 36 submissions against and 47 in favour. (The Nelson Mail, Thursday 9 July 2009) COUNCIL INVITES EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTThe Nelson City Council is calling for expressions of interest from architects wanting to become involved in the proposed performing arts and conference centre. Council technical services senior executive Alec Louverdis said the council was asking for architects keen to be involved in the project to come forward after its decision last month to look at ways of developing a centre at the reduced cost of $28 million. The council has previously said its estimated contribution to the centre would be up to $32.4m. It has earmarked a Rutherford St-Selwyn Place site for the centre. Mr Louverdis said that once the council had heard from interested architects, it would shortlist a maximum four. He said the call for interested architects had been made nationally and they would be required to demonstrate recent relevant experience in theatre design. (The Nelson Mail, Thursday 9 July 2009) HOUSE DROUGHT HAMPERS SALESThe reluctance of potential vendors to list their homes in what's perceived to be a buyers' market is impacting on sales figures, the Real Estate Institute says. June sales statistics show the median house price in Nelson-Tasman climbed by more than $10,000 to $357,500 compared to May and June last year. The volume of sales sat at 130, up from 108 last June but down on the 154 sales recorded in May. The median number of days to sell was 47 - slightly longer than it was in May but a few days less than in June last year. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 10 July 2009) STRIFE ARISES OVER LIGAR BAY BACHESOwners vow to keep their homes The owners of seaside baches on public land at Ligar Bay have begun a campaign to save their homes and holiday cottages, which could be demolished or removed when their licences expire in March 2014. The eight baches, built on Tasman District Council road reserve in the 1940s and early 50s, were granted 25-year licences in 1989. Although some owners have applied for extensions to their licences, they have not yet been granted, and the council is seeking public views before a decision is made. The Golden Bay Community Board, which has carried out a preliminary survey of Ligar Bay residents and chaired a recent public meeting on the issue, is calling for a community-driven management plan for Ligar Bay. The survey revealed a wide range of views, with some arguing that the baches should be removed from the public reserve and others believing they should remain indefinitely. Most of the baches serve as holiday homes, but two are permanent homes. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 11 July 2009) RECESSION TAKES TOLL ON CBDThe recession and winter are biting in Nelson with more vacancies than usual among inner city stores. Several shops are closing down or relocating, often on the back of expiring leases. The latest closing-down sales have included the Just $2 store and Checkers Records in Trafalgar St, and the Linen Press, Plastic Box and Black Market Imports in Bridge St. Betts Arts Crafts and Graphics in Hardy St is due to close at the end of this month. The Cake Shop and Cafe in Bridge St has also shut down and remains vacant. Nelson Paper Plus owner David Moir confirmed his store was shifting to the Just $2 premises which was "slightly bigger" than its Trafalgar St store. He couldn't comment on what was happening with the current site, saying it was "commercially sensitive". Kiwi Persian Oriental Rug Gallery owner Hoss Kouhestani said he had to shift from his Trafalgar St store because the site had been leased to Telecom which is shifting from a smaller store on the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy St. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 11 July 2009) ST MARY'S HALL FINAL DAYSNelson woman Diana Clark is doing her bit to record history. Every day for the past two weeks she has gone to Manuka St to photograph the demolition of the 100-year old St Mary's Hall. She is St Mary's parish archivist, and has looked after records which date back to 1844. The church's treasure trove includes Father Garin's chair, old vestments and a Stoke orphanage bell. The hall, which has been the venue for events ranging from debutante balls to school concerts, is being demolished to make way for a combined St Mary's Parish and St Joseph's School administration centre and hall. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 11 July 2009) PROPERTY WATCHKite surfers expand A Nelson couple who started a kite surfing school about three years ago are opening a store in the Sands apartment complex at Tahunanui. Shane and Sue Anderson leased the premises through Summit commercial agent Bevan Dixon and hope to open the Kite Surf Nelson shop there in September. As well as teaching kite surfing at Tahunanui Beach, the Andersons have a home-based business selling kite surfing gear throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Mr Anderson said the Sands seemed like the perfect spot to base their expanding business. Their retail range will be extended to surfing and other watersports gear, he said. New Sprig and Fern Brightwater is set to get its own Sprig and Fern tavern. Colour Plus store owner Kevin Gear and business partners Len Bowman and Tom Pyatt are awaiting final sign-off from the Tasman District Council to establish it in the block of buildings adjoining the Brightwater Four Square store and hairdressers. Mr Gear said they hoped to have the business operating by September. "We're looking forward to providing what the community wants by the way of a small, friendly, quiet bar." The Sprig and Fern brand is owned by Tasman Brewing which the tavern owners have a supply contract with. The trio intend to be "hands on" in the business but are looking to employ at least one other person, Mr Gear said. Property price down A modern four-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a 1.12ha property at 23 Hollyman Rd, Hira, has sold for $115,000 less than the price it was originally listed at. The property was advertised for $865,000 early this year before dropping to $835,000 and then $785,000. It sold through Harcourts for $750,000 which is $5000 over its RV. Harcourts sales manager Mike Rollo said the volume of sales in Nelson had increased significantly compared with last year, but this was predominantly in the cheaper price ranges. Sale below cost A new four-bedroom brick home at 20 Woodstock Place, Stoke, which was being advertised as a chance to "buy below cost" sold for $479,500 at auction through Ray White agent Ben Cooper. He said it attracted seven bidders. "There's a lot of buyers around at the moment." The property has a RV of $500,000 and was complete except for landscaping, curtains and fencing. Mr Cooper said he understood the sale price was below the cost of building but he didn't know by how much. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 11 July 2009) DID YOU KNOW?The Duke & Cooke range of services includes property consultancy. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKTreat anger like gold. Spend it wisely or not at all. |
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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 |