Affordable Housing
Housing
Background:
Affordable Housing in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough: Taking Action was commissioned by the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand (CHRANZ) to explore employment and population growth, labour markets and the linkages to housing in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough (NT&M) regions.
The final report, which was delivered on 30 June 2006 after discussion with local stakeholders, summarises research findings on housing and accommodation issues in the NT&M regions and contains a series of recommendations for implementation by local authorities, central government agencies and community based organisations.
The report found that declining levels of housing affordability and home ownership rates in the NT&M regions, combined with continuing population increases will place further pressure on housing supply. Infrastructure constraints on zoning and housing density are also seen as key factors in constraining supply. Stakeholders agreed that the lack of affordable housing in the regions negatively impacted on local and regional economies, particularly in the attraction and retention of workers.
The report concludes that the rapid escalation in land prices in these areas, particularly in Tasman, highlights the needs to ensure an adequate supply of new residential land with appropriate infrastructure designed to service dense residential settlement.
Along with detailed recommendations (Appendix A refers), the final report proposes the appointment of a Regional Co-ordinator in NT&M to assist key agencies in the implementation of the recommendations.
NT&M have established a steering group comprising representatives from the region’s three District Councils, two Chambers of Commerce, three Housing Trusts, two Economic Development Agencies and Ko Te Poumanawa Oranga (KTPO) to oversee the project. A broadly based advisory group supports the steering group.
The Marlborough Regional Development Trust (MRDT) is administrative agent for the project. MRDT has developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency (EDA) to oversee the administrative implementation of this project across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
Progress:
The Steering Group put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) in April 2007 and received three proposals.
Opus International Consultants have been appointed to the role, and will begin on July 2 2007. Opus has offices in both Nelson and Blenheim and provided the following profile.
“Opus International Consultants is a leading Engineering, Architecture, Planning and Property Management Consultancy providing physical infrastructure asset development and asset management solutions. We are committed to providing a superior service to our clients and take pride in our achievements, and in the strong relationships we have established with our clients and with the wider industry in which we operate.
Opus is the largest professional services company of its type headquartered in New Zealand and we rank in the top 100 worldwide. Today, OPUS has around 2000 staff in offices and laboratories throughout Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.”
Opus Project Manager is Geoff Cant (Blenheim based) and Priyani de Silva-Currie is the Nelson office contact.
It is expected that a Progress Report will be released to all stakeholders after 6 Months, and again at the end of the project (July 2008).
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