Hokitika has been revealed by Housing Minister Megan Woods as the site of one of the critical infrastructure projects that will get government support to unlock more homes in communities around the country.
Plans by the Westland District Council to develop part of the Hokitika Racecourse for some new housing comes from the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) funding, will enable homes to be built much sooner than would otherwise be possible.
"Securing funding from the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) is a positive step towards achieving Council’s aspirations of increasing the housing supply for our elderly people in the Hokitika area," says newly elected Westland District, Mayor Helen Lash. “We hope locals wanting to downsize, will free up houses for families.” Helen says she is thrilled to be elected as the Mayor of Westland and 2023 is the start of the real work.
Helen also says, "Council recognises, we need to increase pensioner housing to meet current and future demands. Our Long Term Plan identified the area of the old Hokitika Racecourse which is already zoned as residential to be developed with the infrastructure necessary to build housing.
The funding from the IAF will greatly assist the Hokitika community in meeting housing demands for the area. Councils focus for the project will be to ensure that the development honours the past of this special site and will have strong linkages to the creation of the adjacent recreational reserve. We are very grateful that we are receiving this assistance from the government to provide for our community.”
