Property Talk: Hurunui dam passes

Click the NBR Radio box for on-demand special feature audio: Sally Lindsay and Chris Hutching talk about the latest in property news in Property Talk

A High Court ruling allows costings for a dam on the Waitohi River near Hurunui in North Canterbury to go ahead.

Hurunui Water Project obtained resource consents for the dam a year ago but they were appealed by Amuri Irrigation over nutrient allocations.

Hurunui and Amuri came to an out-of-court settlement but Environment Court judge Jon Jackson refused to accept the withdrawal of the case by Amuri and ruled there had been an abuse of process over the data about the breaching of nutrient levels if the $400 million dam project went ahead.

The High Court has now overturned that ruling. Chris Hutching discusses what this means for Hurunui Water Project.

Auckland Council’s controversial three-year transport levy could be changed so businesses pay more of the levy.

Under the original proposal by mayor Len Brown householders were to pay $114 a year and businesses $183 a year. Under a new proposal businesses share of the levy to raise $500 million over three years for transport projects, will rise from 14% to 32%.

The Employers and Manufacturers Association says this is outrageous. Sally Lindsay looks at how businesses will be hit in the pocket.

Christchurch developer and entrepreneur Alasdair Cassels is partly cashing up his successful development The Tannery.

The Woolston complex is being syndicated by Taurus Group. It is offering 350 units of $50,000 each to eligible investors.

Mr Cassels will retain 55% by subscribing for $9.6 million worth of the $17.5 million being sought. Chris Hutching explains.

A huge backlash is expected over Auckland Council’s plans to rezone swatches of Auckland’s leafy suburbs from single house to multiple and mixed-use housing zones for multi-level apartments and townhouses.

These changes have been made in secret and will be released in maps in the next couple of weeks. There has been no public discussion about the changes to intensify the city and mayoral aspirant Mark Thomas says concerns about the unitary plan, under which this is being done, and this will only exacerbate them.

Sally Lindsay looks at the debate. 

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