“Affordable housing is also about supply and demand — this Government has promised to build 100,000 houses, so far it has only built 33. During the same period, the private sector has built 35,200 homes.
“Right now it takes too long to free up land, and the Resource Management Act is key to this.
“National is working on a wholesale reform of the RMA, and we are committed to having a proposal by 2020.
“National will deliver the houses that New Zealanders need.”
Gisborne District Council is working to ensure it can speed up pathways for more housing development.
GDC strategic planning manager Jo Noble said at present there were about 280 hectares of land zoned for residential use that had not been developed, including the Taruheru block, which formed one of the largest sites.
“In some areas new or upgraded infrastructure is needed before development can proceed. There is also potential for redevelopment of existing urban land that would create more housing development.”
District council focus on '2050 road map'The council was also looking at how the region could grow in the future, through the Tairawhiti 2050 project.
“This is a road map for how the region can grow and develop over the next 30 years in a way that makes our communities more resilient to change, is sustainable in terms of social, cultural, environmental and economic values, meets the needs of our communities, provides for the aspirations of tangata whenua and protects what we value.
Ms Noble said an important part of this project was looking at the future of Gisborne CBD and the surrounding urban area.
There was potential to redevelop parts of Gisborne to provide for high-quality, medium-density housing. This would increase the amount of housing available without requiring significant new infrastructure.
The council was working with Eastland Community Trust and ECT’s economic development arm Activate Tairawhiti to develop the project.
“Tairawhiti 2050 will provide a strong platform for council and others (such as ECT and AT) to make the changes needed to sustain a growing population and help achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development of the region.”
At present housing developers would have to pay $8731 plus GST in development contributions for each house to the council (depending on location), which was less than the nationwide average, Ms Noble said.
“A 2012 report on development contributions calculated that the average development contribution in 2012 in New Zealand was $14,133 (GST exclusive).
“Development contributions reduce the pressure on rates and council debt by requiring contributions from developers to fund public reserves and infrastructure (water supply, wastewater disposal, storm water and roading) associated with their developments.”
Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford said in Gisborne, 26 new state houses would be built this year. Homes would be matched to those people and families on the state housing waiting list with the highest priority.
The houses would be built in Abbott Street (eight new homes), Alice Street (four), Churchill Crescent (three), Munro Street (two), Rimu Street (two) and Tyndall Road (seven).
“It is a bit rich for Judith Collins to say our Government should have reformed the RMA in our first year in office. We are working hard to free up the planning rules we inherited.”
