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Duke & Cooke Property News |
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Published on: 1st March 2010 ENTRANCE HERALDS NEW YEAR FOR PRESCHOOL ENTRANCE HERALDS NEW YEAR FOR PRESCHOOLThe new entrance way to the Hira Preschool is something the whole community is proud of. Last year, the preschool received funding from the Canterbury Community Trust to build a double-gated entrance to create a warm welcome to all its families. The entrance way was completed during the summer holidays with the help of local builder Hugh Frettingham, architect Aidan Pykett and Duncan Leask, who designed and built the main gate. Ms Keeler said the end result symbolised a wave crashing over the Boulder Bank. ‘‘It is something we are all really proud of and it is something that we want the whole community to enjoy for years to come.’’ (The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 23 February 2010) DAM PRICE TAG STUNS WATER USERSIrrigators and landowners are ‘‘stunned’’ with potential water costs under the proposed Lee Valley dam scheme. About 70 people attended a presentation at Seifrieds in Appleby last night which outlined the findings of the second stage of a feasibility study into the dam by engineering and environmental consultants Tonkin and Taylor. Out of three cost scenarios for the dam, the Waimea Water Augmentation Committee has expressed preference for the most expensive $41.5 million model. The price tag includes a $4.2m hydroelectricity scheme and a contingency of 20 per cent. The committee proposes 70 per cent of the project be paid for by water users and 30 per cent by the community. The users, which include urban consumers, industry and irrigators, will potentially pay between $420 and $580 a hectare each year to fund the scheme, depending on the number of users who join. This cost estimate has been calculated through a fixed annual charge to cover a 25-year loan plus an annual operating charge. (The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 16 February 2010) DEVELOPERS BEMOAN HIGH COSTSBig dreams once held by developers for Tasman’s Rural 3 zone are being burst, with the ‘‘horrendous’’ costs of development blamed for crushing their profits. The recession, steep council charges and bureaucracy have combined to make times hard for developers, and some aren’t even making any profit on sections, says Tasman developer Chris Edmonds. However, he admitted some developers were unrealistic about the challenges of developing the area, which was zoned Rural 3 in 2005 when ‘‘a certain madness and buoyancy’’ in the market existed. Developers had assumed they could make the sections pay and ‘‘somehow’’ had to have a relook to make the cost per section economical, Mr Edmonds said. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 26 February 2010) $3M LIFT FROM BURNERSA rush on new woodburners Nelson city boosted the value building works by about million for the six months December. A more than five-fold increase in consents submitted for woodburners for the six months from June to December 2009, compared with the same time in 2008, was a result of a last-minute rush to take advantage of the Clean Heat Warm Homes phase-out programme, council building department manager Tracy Quinton-Boundy told councillors yesterday. Open fires and enclosed woodburners around the city have to be replaced with an authorised enclosed burner. Where there is a phase-out deadline, a building consent application for the replacement burner must be lodged before that deadline. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 26 February 2010) TROUBLES NO BARRIER TO $2.2M LODGE PURCHASENelson developer Scott Sanders and his business partner Clare Davies purchased Raetihi Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds for $2.225 million when one of Mr Sanders’ other companies was sliding towards liquidation. Mr Sanders is the sole director of Monaco Village Ltd, which developed the $60 million Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco. Last week it was placed in receivership and liquidation. Receiver David Fisk of Pricewaterhouse Coopers has confirmed that Monaco Village Ltd owes $4.6m to Lombard Finance and $1.09m to trade creditors and resort investors. Research by reveals that Marlborough Sounds Holdings – a company Mr Sanders and Ms Davies are equal shareholders in – bought Raetihi Lodge for $2.225m in December, and the sale was settled last month. Mr Sanders told the yesterday that South Canterbury Finance approached them to buy the property and provided 100 per cent finance. South Canterbury Finance general manager asset manager Ian Thompson confirmed to the Mail yesterday that it approached Mr Sanders and Ms Davies to buy Raetihi Lodge and provided 100 per cent funding. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 27 February 2010) ROTUNDA PLAN STRIKES WRONG NOTE FOR BANDA Tasman District Council proposal to chop off part of the Pohara band rotunda to make way for a new cycle-walkway has upset Heritage Golden Bay and some members of the Takaka Citizens Band, who strongly oppose any alterations to the historic structure. The council intends to build a combined 2.8-metre-wide cycle lane and footpath on the seaward side of the road, with the path narrowing to just 1.4m as it passes the rotunda. Consent for the shared seafront cycle-walkway from the Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park to Pohara Valley was granted in 2004, but plans were delayed after community objections to the original proposal, which was for a raised footpath and kerb and channeling on both sides of the road. Work on the $342,000 amended proposal is scheduled to take place between April and June, to avoid disturbing the blue penguins that cross the road from July onwards. The birds prepare nests in the crevices among the Pohara cliffs. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 27 February 2010) PROPERTY WATCHLibrary upgrade on track The upgrade of Richmond Library is on track, with work scheduled to be completed by mid-June, says Tasman District Libraries manager Catherine Bryham. ‘‘We have completed phase one of the project, which was to renovate and outfit the old Wrightson’s area and the upstairs, and to relocate the library and staff into those areas. Phase two involves the installation of a lift, and the renovation and outfitting of the old library space, as well as some minimal streetscaping and landscaping.’’ Ms Bryham said the new facilities would provide more space and would include a ‘‘digital pod’’ where users could create audio and visual digital content, a ‘‘learning pod’’ for librarians to provide more structured learning sessions, a research room, a community meeting room, and a small coffee bar. ‘‘We hope to be opening late June or early July.’’ Mail development continues Stevens is opening a homeware store in Richmond Mall and Postie Plus is going to double in size, mall manager David Hill says. The changes are part of the mall’s latest redevelopment phase. Mr Hill said Postie Plus would be moving to a new location directly opposite the Farmers entrance. Stevens would go into the Pagani Clothing store, which in turn would move into the Just Incredible store. Just Incredible would occupy part of Postie Plus’ existing site. ‘‘It’s a bit like a Rubik’s Cube,’’ Mr Hill said. Meanwhile, the Bagwear store was closing and negotiations were taking place with a national tenant to fill that space, he said. The changes are set to start taking place next month. An upgrade of the food court area is the next stage of the redevelopment, which the mall hopes to begin later this year. Marahau sections sold Six sections have in the Newhaven subdivision at Marahau since it went on the market just before Christmas, Ray White agent Nicola Chambers says. The subdivision, undertaken by a Richmond developer, has 16 sections in stage one, ranging in price from $290,000 to $325,000, and eight sections in stage two, with prices starting from $260,000. Ms Chambers said sales had been negotiated and were ‘‘not far off asking price’’. Interest was coming from locals and people from Christchurch, Australia and Britain. ‘‘These sections are a rarity in that they’re very close to the sea. They’re a good size – big enough to put the boat, car, house and motorhome on.’’ Five stage one sections have sold and the first of the stage two sections was signed up last week. Green Door sells business Two Nelson businesses, the Hardy St Cafe and Wakatu Mini Mart, have sold through the commission-free Green Door agency. Managing director Gary Le Petit said both were listed late last year. The cafe sold before he returned from holiday in January, and the mini mart sold last week, with the new owner having already taken over, he said. ‘‘It’s sold to someone who has moved in from Wellington, and continues to operate in its current form.’’ The mini mart was priced at $45,000 plus stock, while the cafe was advertised at offers around $50,000. ‘‘Commercial business (listings) are what we’re moving into increasingly. It’s all about effective marketing.’’ Meanwhile, Green Door has started sponsoring the Medi Max ambulance service. Mr Le Petit said he thought the privately owned service was a worthy cause, as it assisted the community by attending various sport games and events. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 27 February 2010) THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKWhen cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say? |
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