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Duke & Cooke Property News |
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Published on: 24th May 2010 LOG AVALANCHE AS FLOOD HITS HOMES LOG AVALANCHE AS FLOOD HITS HOMESEvacuated residents blame forestry work for an avalanche of thousands of logs that crashed through their flooded properties near Tapawera. Families were terrified as huge logs smashed through fences, up against their homes and cut off roads. The disaster saw 22 homes evacuated, with 13 people airlifted to safety. Most are waiting for roads to be cleared before they can return home. (The Nelson Mail, Monday 17 May 2010) CONTRAST IN PARKING REQUIREMENTS RANKLESTwo buildings stand side by side in Nelson’s Bridge St. Both are being redeveloped, yet only one has to provide more car parking. The Nelson courthouse is undergoing a $10.3 million revamp that’s expected to see it lose some car parks, while the Monro building is getting a fourth storey added and has to provide 26 more parks, under Nelson City Council rules. Resource consents manager Mandy Bishop said the courthouse had the advantage of being a ‘‘designated site’’, meaning it doesn’t have to obtain resource consent or comply with the council’s plan. The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and Nelson Airport are other examples of designated sites. ‘‘They have to go through a vigorous process to get designated. What follows after that is virtually a done deal.’’ Ms Bishop said the council saw the courthouse plans and had no concerns. (The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 18 May 2010) FAMILY ABANDON SODDEN HOMEKelly Austin and her family abandoned their uninhabitable home near Tapawera yesterday, grateful they had survived a terrifying encounter with a torrent of logs, mud and water. They are one of 22 families who fled their homes after floods swept through their properties on Sunday and are now trying to recover. Three of the evacuated houses remain empty because they are either too damaged or do not have any running water. (The Nelson Mail, Thursday 20 May 2010) TASMAN QUALIFIES FOR BIGGER HOUSING LOANSHome buyers living in the Tasman district can borrow more than Nelson residents under the Government’s Welcome Home Loan scheme. Uptake of the scheme is increasing, with 36 loans dished out during the financial year up until April in Nelson Tasman region compared with 27 during the whole of 2008-09. Housing New Zealand home ownership product manager Mike Webber said the uptake of Welcome Home Loans had increased since the maximum borrowing amount was raised last November to $350,000. The scheme entitles people below specified income levels to a deposit-free loan of up to $200,000. There’s provision to borrow up to $280,000 in Nelson and $350,000 in Tasman if the applicant can stump up with a 15 per cent deposit for the financing over $200,000. Mr Webber said the levels would be reviewed again this November. (The Nelson Mail, Friday 21 May 2010) MOTORSPORT PLAN PUT TO NCCResource consent application is about to be lodged for a planned motorsport park near Tapawera, which could include a conference centre, a circuit the same size as Ruapuna speedway in Christchurch, and a driver training school. David McLeod of Nelson project management company Project Fusion, which has drafted the concept plan for the Tasman Motor Sport Park, spoke to councillors at the Nelson City Council’s annual plan hearing yesterday. He said that because it stood to be a regional park, the city was being alerted to a future call for funding. Mr McLeod said earlier that his clients Gary Adcock and Gary Donaldson wanted to build a track for car racing and motocross events on their land at Rabbit Gully, beyond the Kohatu Hotel. The Tasman District Council provided funding in 2008 for a feasibility study for the multi-stage development, which on initial costings had an estimated price tag of $26 million. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 22 May 2010) WINERY SALE CALLED OFFNelson-based winery Waimea Estates will continue running as a family business after its owners pulled out of a $34 million sale to an American company. The United States-based Saint James Company had gained Overseas Investment Office approval to buy Waimea Estates and Marlborough wine company Gravitas to create the New Zealand Wine Group. Waimea Estates co-owner and viticulturist Ben Bolitho told The Nelson Mail yesterday his family had pulled out of the deal, believing it didn’t have ‘‘any likelihood of progressing’’. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 22 May 2010) PROPERTY WATCHSale helps African orphans An orphanage in Zimbabwe is set to benefit from the sale of a Richmond property which several businesses and people have had a hand in. The section at 32a Crescent St was purchased by the Nelson-based KiwiLink charity, headed by Chris and Mandy Baigent. Richmond Mall donated a house from its carpark, which was moved to the section and has been fully renovated by Mainzeal contractors. Harcourts agent Karen Horner is taking the property to auction on June 9, with all the marketing being paid for by the agency. ‘‘It is a project that is very close to my heart, as I have been to this orphanage in Zimbabwe and hugged these babies personally,’’ she said. The orphanage, Khayelihle Children’s Village, is home to about 90 children who have lost their parents to HIV. Proceeds from the house sale would help to build accommodation for another 20 children, Mrs Horner said. The property has an RV of $320,000 and will be open for people to visit at 2pm today. (The Nelson Mail, Saturday 22 May 2010) THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKHow do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs? |
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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 |