Shortage of land ‘drives buyers away’
A lack of rural residential sections in South Canterbury may be driving potential buyers out of the region.
Concerns about a shortage of rural residential land to cater for future growth were raised by multiple submitters to the Timaru District Council’s Growth Management Strategy.
However, the district’s mayor says the strategy was compiled using expert analysis, and people should be confident the council was well prepared for future growth.
The strategy provides a blueprint for the future growth of the district over the next three decades.
The council had projected a need for 18 dwellings a year to service the rural residential needs of the district.
In her submission, real estate agent Ann McCully, who said she had been working in Timaru for more than 20 years, raised concerns about a lack of rural residential sections.
Timaru was ‘‘often missing out due to the unavailability of these sites’’, she said.
‘‘Requests from purchasers who prefer a house or section with unobstructed, widespread views are usually left with no other option and often results in these funds being invested in other towns such as Wanaka, Queenstown, etcetera.
‘‘Residential zoning in Timaru in recent years has in the main limited development to where the council would prefer to see the growth take place rather than being flexible enough to allow for a wider range of residential sites.’’
McCully said yesterday South Canterbury had ‘‘amazing’’ views and it would be a ‘‘shame not to take as much advantage as possible’’.
‘‘There are people that are leaving our region because they aren’t being satisfied locally.’’
Another submission, on behalf of G A & J L Ward & Footes Trustee Ltd, also suggested the perceived shortage of land may drive people to look elsewhere.
The submission referenced Ashburto nas an area with ‘‘significantly more rural residential zones established’’ on its outskirts.
‘‘Many current or future Timaru District residents may consider Ashburton District (or in fact any other district in the country) to be a more appealing alternative in the period through to 2043, given the extensive choice available for rural residential development outside of the Timaru District.’’
A submission on behalf of planning and surveying business Milward Finlay Lobb Ltd questions the council’s growth projections.
‘‘We believe inadequate evaluation has been made of the demand for rural/residential lifestyle blocks, a character of our region, which should be properly provided for,’’ the business says in its submission.
Mayor Damon Odey said more rural residential land was ‘‘definitely something we need to be planning for’’.
‘‘We have engaged property economists to do detailed research,’’ he said in reaction to criticism.
The growth strategy would help to inform the District Plan process, which would also be taking the issue into consideration, he said.