Interest continues in Kaitangata property offer

Kaitangata is about 10km south-east of Balclutha, and sits on the Clutha River delta. Photo / Otago Daily Times

More than half the sections available in a house and land package offered in Kaitangata have sold.

The offer of land and a house in the tiny South Otago town for $230,000 gained international attention earlier this year and those behind the offer were flooded with thousands of inquiries from around the world.

Property consultant Margot Berney said the inquiries had died down since the height of interest, in July, though she was still receiving some queries from overseas.

Now most of the interest was from New Zealand-based people.

Eleven of sections had sold to people from ''all over the show'', including Nelson, Auckland, Christchurch, Australia and the local district.

Six sections were still left on the market.

The Clutha District Council also owned some sections which it planned to put on the market under the housing package.

''They'll be coming on just as they are prepared and are ready to market them.''

Construction had not yet started on the houses to go on the sections, but some drainage work was being prepared.

She expected first house construction would start at Christmas.

Special criteria for the house and land package meant applicants still needed to declare their intent and were allowed two years to have building completed on the section.

''It is a fairly lengthy process.

''The contracts do take a bit of time 'cos they've got about a month to get all their ducks in a row.''

Council media communications co-ordinator Rachel Askew said the council was still in the process of separating some of its sections from forestry blocks in Kaitangata.

Nine sections still needed to be surveyed before it was clear if there was enough space for dwellings.

It would take the council up to six months for new titles to be issued before the sections could be put on the market, Ms Askew said.