Kainga Ora Developments Information

Graeme from Nelson South

Dear Nelson South Residents.
I wish to pass on information of Kainga Ora and other developments in the Nelson South area, statements made by elected officials regarding these developments and what has been learned as I feel that the residents should be fully informed and have the ability to ask questions on issues that potentially could impact their houses and communities.

With the recent changes in the legislation around such developments it is impossible for residents to find out about these developments without insider knowledge or have any meaningful input into any such developments until they have been given Council consent and approved.

From a meeting with Nelson Labour MP R Boyack the following was stated:
“There are 260 new Kainga Ora builds planned for Nelson South”
“One of these new builds will be within the same distance (referring to the present development at 125 Waimea Rd) and will have an elevator”
Note: Any building over 3 stories must have an elevator.
The Building Consent given to the development at 125 Waimea Rd states:

“16.1 The draft FDS 2022 locates the site within N-22Hospital/Nelson South with an intensification typology of predominantly three-story terraces and walk-up apartments, with potential of up to 6 storeys on suitable sites”

Further investigation uncovered that there is to be another development of undisclosed size on Examiner St West at the site of the Pensioner Flats that has been confirmed by Nelson Weekly.
On the corner of Examiner St East and Waimea Rd has been confirmed by Habitat for Humanity that a Habitat for Humanity and Unite Church partnership for a development of a mix of Apartments and Townhouses, although these are still in concept stage it is believed to be a 3 storey building. These are not for home ownership as is usual with Habitat developments but will be rented and managed by Habitat and Unite Church.
From a meeting with Mayor N Smith and Deputy Mayor R O’Neil-Stevens the following was stated:
Both fully agree, endorse and encourage housing intensification in the Nelson South area,
Deputy Mayor R O’Neil-Stevens stated “it should have been higher” speaking about the development at 125 Waimea Rd which is 3 storeys with 29 single room apartments.
Mayor N Smith stated to my question regarding that without elevators any person with a mobility issue cannot access the majority of the apartments and my concern with the statement made by the Council Planner on the consent regarding the issue of access, which was

“I did view it a potential oversight in which consistency with DO13A.2.1 accessibility may be questionable” and “ … in my opinion does not fully cater for all pedestrians including those with disabilities…”

Mayor Nick Smith stated: “if you have any issue with the consent or the planners decision you should take a legal case to the Environmental Court”

Kainga Ora has a “drop in session” planned for neighbors to find out what is happening in their area, however the map that KO has used for this “session” only covers a small area and does not extend beyond the hospital leaving suspicions that they will refuse to talk about the Examiner St development , other developments in the area and potentially a much bigger building “within walking distance of the hospital” to which Labour MP R Boyack alluded to in our discussion or the other 258 new Kainga Ora builds she stated was planned in the Nelson South area.
If you wish to find out what could be potentially being planned in your area I advise going to these “drop in sessions” and asking.
To be held on,
Wednesday 14/ Thursday 15 June
4pm to 7pm
Nelson Intermediate School