Subdivisions offer housing hope for Kaiko¯ura

‘‘We have a big issue with a lot of elderly having to move away because we don’t have the facilities, which means they are leaving behind their family support networks.’’

The town received a boost in July, when Housing Minister Megan Woods announced a $7.8 million funding agreement for Kaiko¯ ura from Ka¯ inga Ora’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.

‘‘When we had the Ka¯ inga Ora staff here they could not believe the view,’’ Doughty said, at the 7-hectare Vicarage Views site.

It is the former site of the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) workers’ village.

Along with the Ocean Ridge development, both developments are a partnership with Garry

Robertson, the owner of Ocean Ridge, a 130-hectare development located to the south of Kaiko¯ ura.

The funding will pay for roading, footpaths and a cycle way to connect Ocean Ridge with Vicarage Views, local schools and the town centre. Doughty said the total cost of the infrastructure was estimated at $12 million, with the council’s contribution being $175,000.

The balance will be funded by the developer.

‘‘In a way, Garry is doing more than a standard development contribution in giving more funding and support because he really wants to see this place be supported and to take off,’’ Doughty said.

Stage one is the Vicarage Views development, which is subject to a resource consent and the necessary building consents.

It is expected to comprise 83 homes, with 43 qualifying for the First Home Grant House Price Cap ($700,000), of which 20 are older persons’ units.

Robertson says he hopes to file the resource consent application this month. The older persons’ housing, comprising one to two bedroom units with a carport on 250m2 to 350m2 sites, will be located in the centre.

It will be surrounded by threebedroom family homes.

‘‘We want to make them as affordable as possible. There is a dire shortage of new homes and rentals in the town,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘I will do anything to help young people into a home, particularly anyone who is new to town and has something to offer. ‘‘We want to grow the town.’’ He said his first preference would be to support local builders and tradespeople.

A further 350 sections are expected to be opened up at Ocean Ridge. The council has also applied for Three Waters ‘‘Better Off’’ funding so it can assist Environment Canterbury with flood protection works on the Kowhai River, to the west and south of Kaiko¯ura. In 1993, the Kowhai River burst its banks and flowed into the town centre.

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.