NZ Urban Development news from the media | 14 March 2023 | Government delivers better public transport for Christchurch

Government delivers better public transport for Christchurch

The Greater Christchurch community will soon have access to more frequent and reliable public transport services saving them time and money, Minister of Transport Michael Wood announced today.

The Government is investing $78 million to accelerate the Greater Christchurch Public Transport Futures Bus Improvements programme over a five-to-six year period, around half the time originally anticipated.

“The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more resilient and efficient for now and future generations to come,” Michael Wood said.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-delivers-better-public-transport-christchurch

Waimate residents sceptical over public meetings on waste to energy plant

The company behind a waste to energy proposal in South Canterbury hopes a series of public meetings next week will put residents' minds at ease.

South Island Resource Recovery Limited so far has had consent applications for a plant in Waimate returned twice because of a lack of information.

The company announced plans to build the plant in 2021, saying it would prevent 350,000 tonnes of rubbish from going to landfill each year.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485829/waimate-residents-sceptical-over-public-meetings-on-waste-to-energy-plant

Developer wins multi-million dollar development contributions case against city council

It was unlawful for a council to almost double the bill for a Hamilton development – making it nearly $10.4m – the high court has ruled.

Everton Heights Limited has won a legal victory over Hamilton City Council after contesting the development contributions required for a Rotokauri project in the city’s northwest.

Justice Melanie Harland found in favour of the company, saying the council “changed its mind” about how to calculate the development contributions, and the attempt to change the method was unlawful.

But the council has appealed the decision and Everton Heights’ owner is worried it could be a long time before he benefits from the ruling.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300826954/developer-wins-multimillion-dollar-development-contributions-case-against-city-council