The preferred development option – including the total number of units to be built – at a Katikati elder housing redevelopment will be decided by Western Bay of Plenty District Council's councillors on April 27.
Katikati's Heron Crescent elder housing village redevelopment is already underway with the old housing demolished to make way for the new project and WBOPDC managing siteworks, ensuring the numbers stack up and applying for additional funding.
According to WBOPDC when councillors decide on the preferred development option on Thursday, April 27 the total number of units to be built may vary depending on whether an application to the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development's Affordable Housing Fund for additional capital funding is successful.
Most aged 70-plus
Council CEO John Holyoake says his team need to keep moving forward so elder housing tenants can get settled into their new, warm and dry homes as soon as possible. 'Katikati has the most people over 70 years old of all the towns in the Western BOP according to Stats NZ's population estimations.
'But there's not enough suitable, affordable housing available. And as cost of living keeps increasing, so does the need for more affordable housing. We can't afford to wait, we need get on with the things we can now, so we can help the people who really need it.”
The existing units have been removed and foundational siteworks kick off this month. The existing path between Diggelmann Park and Heron Crescent through the village is closed until to July-August, when the new path will be opened.
Community korero
Works to come include upgrading stormwater mains, construction of a retaining wall, earthworks, new wastewater connections and a new paved path to Diggelmann Park. At a council meeting on April 27, councillors will make a decision on the preferred development option for Heron Crescent for the initial design, which will then need to be developed into a detailed design and build project. In the weeks following that decision, council will invite the community to korero (talk) with councillors and its team on the initial design in detail. 'Our team are applying to external funding avenues for additional capital to progress the build, ensuring the redevelopment cost isn't passed to ratepayers,” says John.
'The current redevelopment plans are mostly covered by $5.34m from the Government's ‘Better Off' funding, but the council team has now also registered a bid for funding through the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development's Affordable Housing Fund.
'An announcement on the Affordable Housing fund isn't expected until August, after initial works have begun at Heron Crescent.” For more information, visit:
westernbay.govt.nz/elder-housing