Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller credits the recent boost in housing figures to the special housing areas under the Tauranga Housing Accord.
'The value of building work consented in the past year is higher than ever before and now this momentum has come to the Bay of Plenty,” says Todd.
BOP MP Todd Muller describes the housing figures as good news for first home buyers and families.
'The extent of the Government's work to improve housing affordability shows we are serious about the issue.
'This is good news for first home buyers and families in Papamoa and Omokoroa. It keeps the developments going, provides jobs and, critically, provides more houses for local families.
'Rather than debating the nuances of the housing market, we're cracking on and getting the job done. If we are to improve housing affordability we need to increase land supply.”
Under the Housing Accord signed by Minister Nick Smith and the Tauranga City Council, seven Special Housing Areas have been established in Tauranga and one in the Western Bay of Plenty.
'Consents for developments in these areas can be streamlined and fast-tracked which means builders can get on with the job,' says Todd.
'Land zoning that could have taken years will now be completed in weeks, which will make prices more attractive for developers and support the ongoing provision of quality housing in Papamoa.”
'Housing Accords are part of the Government's package to improve housing affordability. We are also cutting building and compliance costs, reining in development contributions and investing in skills and productivity in the construction sector.”
Additional support for first home buyers will be bolstered from April 1 this year with the introduction of the KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme, which Todd says will help around 90,000 people into their first home.
The government is also doubling the grant they are eligible for if buying a newly built home, like the ones set to be built in these Special Housing Areas.
The seven special housing areas in Tauranga are located in Waihi Road, Golden Sands, Palm Springs, Ngā Pōtiki, Papamoa Junction, Te Okuroa Drive / Parton Road, and Zariba. The Special Housing Area in Western Bay of Plenty is on Omokoroa Road.
7 comments
Unfortunately...
Posted on 05-02-2015 14:55 | By penguin
......this is just another load of government rhetoric designed to try and make us somehow feel good and for Muller to get a reward from his ‘boss.' There is nothing new in his statement if it is looked at carefully - based on if's, should's, could be's etc.
lining the pockets of developers
Posted on 05-02-2015 15:28 | By Smilarkie
... the facts are simple. All this is doing is allowing the developers to fast track smaller houses on even smaller sections. Its funny that the min deposit needed to buy a house was lifted a few years ago, to stop people getting in trouble with mortgages. Now they say its ok to have a small deposit ans a big mortgage as long as you buy a "new" house. (whos winning here) average new 3 bed house in Papamoa $450 plus, average older house, depending on condition and area only $350--$450. Ever family I speak to wants a family sized section. Its about time these greedy developers made some of them a bit bigger.
Local MP missing...
Posted on 05-02-2015 19:21 | By dgk
I would have expected the MP for Tauranga to be telling us this. Or is he AWOL again.
Wisechief
Posted on 06-02-2015 07:58 | By Wise Chief
Splitting sections into smaller lots and taking what Maori land remains is core business of councils who never ever have put in anything of real value into NZ or area they control since establishment under colonial government. Again & again same game of split sections is played which in turn artificially increases land-building prices+permits to again increase rates take to bolster central & local government coffers. In this theft of Maori assets regime few concessions are ever made towards Maori even to build small homes for their elderly or benefit & working poor & homeless on their own multiple owned lands.WHY? These lands not able to be used for mortgages without huge initial compliance costs involved.Policy is deliberate and was made as difficult as possible to put them off making an application to build on their land already long targeted for annexation.This British now South African made NZ INC
Go Todd !!!!
Posted on 06-02-2015 12:17 | By Jimmy Ehu
let the negative whingers moan, loosers are good at it.
Hey Jimmy...
Posted on 07-02-2015 08:50 | By Smilarkie
.... thats a brave comment. Must of taken you a while to come up with that. If you have anything to say about the issue we are commenting on then say so. I can't speak for the others but I know I am not a looser. Kepp your political go Todd, National support to yourself.
@Smilarkie....
Posted on 09-02-2015 19:03 | By Jimmy Ehu
nah mate all is good, so easy "takin the pss" though.
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