Act could be used to buy land

Acting Hastings District Council CEO John O'Shaughnessy

The Hastings District Council could use the Public Works Act to acquire two central business district properties to open pedestrian access from a council-owned carpark to the city's mainstreet shopping centre.

It involves two shops at 333-335 Heretaunga St West, which the council wants for access to Heretaunga St West from the Queen St West carpark, between Nelson-King Sts. They are Maxim Barbers, a tenant for just 13 months, and an adjoining now-vacant shop most recently occupied by Bodyline. The properties are owned by Jon Smith, who was unable to be contacted by Hawke's Bay Today late yesterday.

The council is "in the process of acquiring" the properties, said acting council head John O'Shaughnessy, adding: "Negotiations with the landowner continue on a willing buyer/willing seller basis, but a notice to acquire the property has been issued.

"This would enable Council to reconfigure the existing shop layout to create a pedestrian accessway from Heretaunga St to the western end of the Queens St West carpark," he said.