Current filter:
With almost all voluntary buyout offers complete and building demolitions underway where appropriate, another workstream associated with the programme is advancing - the disposal of the Category 3 land that people can no longer live on.
When the buyout policy was created, a key consideration was the management and sale of Category 3 land purchased by councils through the process.
Two main objectives underpin the disposal process: maximising productive use of the land (for example offering it to neighbouring landholders so it can be incorporated into larger productive blocks) and reducing the overall cost of the programme to ratepayers through property sale proceeds.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the intention had always been that Council would not retain properties acquired through the programme.
“In tandem with the purchase of Category 3 properties, the Voluntary Buyout Office is working to divest as much of this land as possible so it can be put to productive use for non-residential activities, and we can minimise ongoing maintenance costs.”
“Our long term objective is to reduce the burden on the ratepayers.”
Council has previously engaged with mana whenua to identify any land that may be of specific interest and, where appropriate, neighbours have been approached to gauge potential interest in buying adjacent properties.
If there has been no interest, the land has been put on the open market, with all properties valued post-cyclone to determine the current market value.
Of 22 properties eligible for sale, 11 have been sold or are under contract and the remaining 11 have either been offered to adjoining property owners or prepared for open market sale.
Dwellings suitable for relocation are also being sold.
Demolition of properties not suitable for relocation is expected to be 80 per cent complete by the end of this year.
During this work, a high rate of diversion of materials for recycling or repurposing (around 73 per cent on average and up to 92 per cent in some cases) has been achieved, helping to reduce the impact on the environment.
This has included crushing concrete/brick and tiles for integration into roading materials, recycling flat glass at the 5R site at Redclyffe, recycling large appliances, and repurposing or selling windows, doors, framing, tapware, fireplaces and roofing.
“This whole process has been extremely difficult for those impacted who have had to uproot their lives, but I am proud of the team for treating property owners with empathy and seeking resolution in as timely a way as possible.
“It’s been very important to work with our community to provide a safe pathway forward, and secure a productive future for this land,” said Mayor Hazlehurst.
5 December 2024
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the Hastings District Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, Hastings District Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. Hastings District Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© Hastings District Council - / +64 6 871 5000 / customerservice@hdc.govt.nz