North Canterbury public housing supply set to grow
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Kāinga Ora is redeveloping some of its properties in Kaiapoi and Rangiora to meet a growing demand for social housing in the Waimakariri district.
A recent report prepared for the Waimakariri and Hurunui District Councils highlighted a lack of adequate emergency and transitional housing and the difficulties of getting on Kāinga Ora’s waiting list.
Kāinga Ora Canterbury regional director Liz Krause said increasing the number of homes on sites in Kaiapoi and Rangiora meant more people could stay in their local area, close to transport options, schools, shops and other amenities.
‘‘When planning for new homes to be built, we carefully consider the designs so they work well and provide the best outcomes for the people and whānau who will live there, as well as the wider community.’’
Since the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, Kāinga Ora has built 73 new homes in the Waimakariri district.
New projects were under way Kaiapoi and Rangiora to meet the growing demand.
Two large sites in Princess Place and Williams St in Kaiapoi were being redeveloped, with seven large, older houses being replaced with 21 warm and dry homes.
The redevelopment of five sites in Church, Lindon and Tyler streets in Rangiora will lead to another 22 new homes built.
‘‘The brand new homes will replace older homes and be far better suited to the modern lifestyles of our customers,’’ Krause said.
‘‘All of these new homes will come with their own off-street parking and 15 will meet full universal design standards, meaning they can be adapted to be accessible for people of all abilities, at any stage of life.’’
Demolition of the existing buildings, site preparations and construction have begun for some properties, while the majority of the homes are expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.
‘‘As we progress these redevelopments, we will keep neighbours, the local community and key stakeholders informed with updates on progress,’’ Krause said.
‘‘We’re really looking forward to construction starting and delivering these brand new homes to the Waimakariri community.’’
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.
Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’
She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.
A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.
While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.
Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.
More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.
Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.
He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.
‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’
Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.
The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.
‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.
He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.
The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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84.3% Yes
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14.2% No
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