NCC seeks $25m for upgrade near proposed housing development

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

A proposed housing development outside Nelson is believed to include land in the Maitai Valley.

An application has been made for $25 million from central government to upgrade infrastructure near a proposed 700-home development in Nelson.

The proposed development of 700 homes to be built in the Mahitahi and Bayview area is a collaboration between two developers, iwi and the council.

Part of the development includes most of the ridgeline between Bayview Road in Atawhai and the Centre of New Zealand as well as land in Maitai's Kaka Valley.

The land has been identified for its development potential in the Nelson/Tasman Future Development Strategy.

Contractors clear land above houses at Walters Bluff in Nelson in January. A proposed new housing subdivision includes most of the ridgeline from Bayview Road in Atawhai and the Centre of New Zealand.

The agenda for Wednesday's full Nelson City Council meeting which is being held to discuss the Annual Plan consultation document shows the council is applying to the Crown Infrastructure Partners Fund (CIPF), which is helping to kickstart the post-covid economy by investing in 'shovel ready' projects.

If the NCC's funding request is granted, the work will most likely need to be fast-tracked, with work beginning before the end of this year. The infrastructure upgrade includes wastewater and water supply upgrades, cycle and walkways, and development of waterways and the river bank.

The agenda stated that if approval is not received before the annual plan is finalised, a report will come back to the council with a request for loan funding.

In addition to the Mahitahi/Bayview project, the NCC has applied for $83m to the CIPF for several projects totalling $217m, including some in conjunction with Tasman District Council, the agenda outlined.

In the Nelson-Tasman region, the projects were identified and submitted via Project Kōkiri, a collaboration between Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and the Nelson Regional Development Agency.