$12.5m to be spent on 40 temporary homes

The Government will spend $12.5 million building 40 homes to ease the housing shortage in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs.

Housing Minister Nick Smith yesterday said the houses would be built at the Rangers Park subdivision in Linwood specifically for families who need somewhere to live while earthquake repairs are carried out on their homes.

After two to three years, the temporary houses would be sold.

The new two, three and four-bedroom homes will add to the 80 units already managed by the Canterbury Earthquake Temporary Accommodation Services at Linwood Park, Kaiapoi Domain and Rawhiti Domain.

‘‘This development . . . will enable people to maintain their work, school and community links in their local area while their repairs and rebuilds are being carried out,’’ Smith said.

He said the homes would be sold at an ‘‘affordable market price’’. Hawkins Construction expects all 40 to be built by November.

Rent prices in the new Rangers Park subdivision would range from $271 to $423 a week.