Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say Community leaders have welcomed a $20 million affordable-housing project being launched in the upper South Island as real estate prices continue to rise. The Canterbury Community Trust plans to build up to 80 units across Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough as a special project to mark its 20th anniversary. Trust chairman Bob Todd said the aim was to help alleviate the housing shortage, with $14.
6m to be spent in Canterbury, $3.6m in Nelson and $1.8m in Marlborough.
"We felt we wanted to do something special for the community and the information we had was there was a lack of affordable and social housing in Christchurch and the trust's constituent areas," he said. Todd said the trust would approach Housing Minister Chris Carter and councils to see if they wanted to become partners. He said it was keen to follow the model of the Gowerton Place project in Richmond, where the council and Housing New Zealand combined to build 20 units for $4.
8m. "One of the options we're looking at is where the council may have land they own and they say `we will give you the land and you build the properties'," he said. Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said the council would be a willing partner in the venture.
"This puts the challenge to us to debate the issues and look seriously at how we can address them and the council will be a willing participant." Helen Gatonyi, of the Tenants Protection Association, said there was a dire need for affordable housing in Christchurch. "But for someone to actually put their hand up like the trust and help is a huge commitment and one to be applauded," she said.
Carter also said he applauded the move and was keen for Housing New Zealand to be involved. "The Canterbury Community Trust's commitment provides a real opportunity for progress on affordable housing in Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough," he said. "I will meet with the trust soon to explore how Housing New Zealand can help as the trust begins to implement its project.
" Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman said the funding was "very welcome and we would take the opportunity to work alongside the community trust". Sowman said he had an open mind on using council-owned land. First, the trust would need to identify the group most in need, whether it be low-income families, young families or transient workers.
Nelson City Council chief executive Viesturs Altments said although he knew few details, it was a bonus for the region. "Anything like that is good news in terms of the issue of affordable housing," he said. "Certainly, it's got to be seen as a big positive.
" HNZ has 1241 applications for housing in the Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough regions, while the Christchurch City Council has 276 applications, with 65 classified as being of urgent need.
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