March 7, 2023

NZ Urban Development news from the media | 28 February 2023 | Physical Works Underway For Auckland Light Rail

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Hi *|FNAME|*, Please find below Urban Development News from the media from the week of 28 February 2023.

Provided by Rockhopper Development Management & Advisory, a member of:

Physical works underway for Auckland Light Rail

Physical works for New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project - Auckland Light Rail (ALR) - are underway with the start of below ground investigations to test soil and water conditions.

The Minister of Transport and for Auckland, Michael Wood, was present for the start of work on a bore hole being drilled 40 metres into a section of Gribblehirst Park, Sandringham. Core samples will be analysed to help decide the most technically viable route for light rail which will connect people to the city’s biggest job centres – the CBD and the airport – and its two universities.

“The first pieces of a very complex infrastructure jigsaw are being put in place, the physical start to a challenging and exciting project that is going to bring so many positive changes to Aucklanders and our city,” says Auckland Light Rail Ltd’s Chief Executive, Tommy Parker.

During the next six months, ALR will sink 30 holes between 10 to 80 metres deep along sections of light rail’s indicative 24-kilometre-long route spanning Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s narrow central isthmus, half of which will be tunnelled.

https://www.lightrail.co.nz/news-and-events/23-feb-2023-physical-works-underway-for-auckland-light-rail/

New plans for Otago Regional Council's HQ revealed

The former site of The Warehouse in central Dunedin will be transformed into the new $45 million headquarters of the Otago Regional Council (ORC), and be known as Whare Rūnaka.

The Dunedin store, on Maclaggan St, was closed to the public in 2020 and bought by the regional council-owned Port Otago a year later.

The project was confirmed by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, meaning a previous site earmarked for the new ORC building would not go ahead.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/131312951/new-plans-for-otago-regional-councils-hq-revealed

Christchurch ratepayers having to foot $2m bill for backlog in resource consent applications

Christchurch ratepayers will have to pick up the tab for a backlog in resource consent applications, as both the district and regional councils struggle with staffing shortages, “higher complexity” requests and other delays.

It comes as Environment Canterbury (ECan) forecasts a 10% average rates rise this year – more than double the proposed 4.6% increase in its last 10-year plan.

The Christchurch City Council has indicated an average 5.6% rates rise this year.

ECan’s draft annual plan points to a backlog in consent processing as a key factor for its increase.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/131297974/ratepayers-having-to-foot-2m-bill-for-backlog-in-resource-consent-applications

Previous news can be access here: https://www.rockhopper.co.nz/blogs/news