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A small town in North Canterbury plans to use affordable housing to attract new residents.
Waiau residents have launched a shared equity housing plan in an effort to increase the number of families in the city after it was hit hard by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in North Canterbury in 2016.
Waiau is a small inland town about 29 miles southeast of Hanmer Springs and 14 miles northeast of Culverden.
Rebekah Kelly, one of the residents of the newly formed Hurunui Community Development Trust, said the housing plan would be great for families who have never thought about climbing the property ladder before.
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“We want people to be able to live here. It’s a great place to live, ”he said.
Supplied
Rebekah Kelly is a member of the Hurunui Community Development Trust and a Waiau local.
Construction of the first house, in a section donated to the trust by the Hurunui District Council, was expected to begin in June.
The first house was being built thanks to an investment from David Dicker, president and CEO of Australian data company Dicker Data.
Dicker also owns Rodin Cars, which has a private test track north of Waiau Township, and has a home in Waiau.
He lent his support to the plan in the past month after the trust approached him, Kelly said.
The trust aimed to build 10 new homes for 10 new families in the next five years.
It was different from a normal developer because it wasn’t looking to make a profit, Kelly said.
The families involved in the plan could offer what they can afford for a home, rather than having to pay huge mortgage payments with interest. It would be similar to a rent-to-own scheme, but the finer details are still being confirmed, he said.
Local farmer and trust president Cheryl Barbara said the trust had “created a mutual benefit for our community and those who want to climb the property ladder.”
According to the trust’s website, the ideal candidates for the plan were families who wanted to participate in community groups, had skills to help local businesses grow, and enjoyed the area’s country lifestyle.
THINGS
For many, an affordable home is an unattainable dream, forcing tens of thousands onto the waiting list for social housing. (First published October 2020)
Kelly said the idea for the housing plan grew out of community meetings held after the 2016 earthquake, where concerns about housing and employment prevailed among residents.
“We would love for people to come to live here and experience that real sense of rural community that is missing from people’s lives.”
The 2016 earthquake, which had its epicenter less than 5 km from Waiau, wiped out much of the city’s housing stock, forcing some families to leave, he said.
The trust scheme was supported by Hurunui District Council Executive Director Hamish Dobbie, and District Councilman Ross Barnes was on the trust board.
Alix bush
Waiau is a small town in North Canterbury. (File photo)
