This week, the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust opened its Kawai Street development in Nelson South – eight two-bedroom warm, dry affordable homes ready for the new tenants. Council provided a $1.2 million grant from its Housing Reserve for the project.
The Housing Trust is a remarkable story of a community working to find a solution to one of the most challenging issues of our time. The Trust was established 21 years ago and had built a portfolio of 50 homes by 2022. Our Council set an ambitious target this term to partner with the Trust to double this to 100 homes by 2026. Its new developments in Muritai Street in 2023, Totara Street in 2024 and this week’s development in Kawai St brings the Trust’s total to 70. Council has provided further support for 10 homes in Dodson Valley Road and another 10 homes in Stoke, bringing the total to 90. A further 14 are planned for Richmond in Bateup Road.
Council is funding its contribution from the $12 million Housing Reserve, funds secured from the sale of its 142 pensioner cottages to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities in 2020. The concern of the new Council in 2022 was that we had these millions in the bank while people were struggling to find an affordable home. We established the Community Housing Acceleration Taskforce, ably chaired by Councillor Rachel Sanson, that is supporting the delivery of 115 additional, affordable homes.
This Kawai Street development, replacing two old houses, is also a good example for Nelson of intensification done well. Nelson needs a mix of new subdivisions and infill development to overcome our housing supply and affordability challenges. The community told us they believed the original Plan Change 29 went too far in proposing six-storey buildings in suburban areas and we need to take our community with us on allowing modest intensification. Seeing good developments like this helps.
Nelson families are squeezed between high and rising rents and modest incomes. Council needs to continue to work hard with organisations such as the Housing Trust, Kāinga Ora, Habitat for Humanity, Abbeyfield, iwi and The Salvation Army to get more affordable homes like these built.
