Commercial builds 'positive'

Geoff Mein Reporter from NewsLink

Buildings are being demolished and sites are being cleared, but the Gore District Council says there isn't a commercial building boom going on in Gore.

GDC building control manager Russell Paterson said building was on a par with normal for the town for this time of the year.

"Probably the ones that people are seeing are quite visible. You've got the Churchy's rebuild and the sites on Hyde Street and the demolition in Surrey Street."

A report from Paterson which was tabled at the GDC's regulatory and planning committee meeting on November 22 said 31 building consents were granted in October with an estimated value of $5,037,700, which included the first consent for the MVM [Mataura Valley Milk] project, which was valued at $3.1m.

At that time a "recent influx" of consent applications meant there were 31 in the processing system, and the total for the year at that time was 130.

Big projects in the district included the first stage of the MVM site, an application for stage two of the BUPA retirement village consisting of 18 single or double units, a commercial carwash on a former residential site on Hyde St and the new St John's Ambulance Station on Charlton Road.

Paterson said he expected the number of consents to escalate as the MVM plant progressed.

In his report to council, he said the confidence shown by the MVM consortium to invest in the production of high quality dairy products is expected to have a flow on effect into other sectors of the community.

"These could include the residential construction trades, real estate companies, hospitality and food outlets as staff are recruited to build and operate the plant."

GDC District Growth Committee chairman Doug Grant said there had been "a little bit of growth" in the district.

"It's looking positive, especially with the dairy factory being built up the road. It's certainly good for jobs in the building industry."

"A lot of these buildings have been planned for well over a year and it's just been that they're all consented at the same time."

The dairy factory development was adding pressure to the housing market.

"You can't find a place to rent for love or money in Gore especially at the moment, so that's positive, unless you're looking for a house."