Former Ashburton council building sold
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The former Ashburton District Council building has been sold, but the details won’t be revealed until the settlement date in the New Year.
The sold sticker went up last week after the councillors decided to accept one of two offers they had received for the site during the public-excluded part of the council meeting.
That means how much it sold for and who the new owners are remain sealed.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said details of the sale were confidential at this time, though more information would be released after settlement.
“There were two offers, which were discussed by councillors in-committee, and they accepted one for the entire site.
“We expect the sale to be finalised in early 2025.”
The property comprises 5059sqm in four titles and the sale was handled by Property Brokers agent Hamish Niles.
The three-storey council building was built in 1974 with a basement and the ability to add a fourth storey but that was scuttled by the changes to the building standards following the Canterbury earthquakes.
Issues with the building were first signalled in 2004, and in 2015 it was decided to combine a replacement with a new library.
The sale of the old council building will offset the $62.1m build cost of the new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere, which opened in January.
The project received $20m from the Government’s shovel-ready infrastructure programme.
Earlier this year the council sold the former public library building for $1.1m to CBR Properties Limited, which plans to renovate the building into a boutique hotel.
It also sold two relocatable buildings for $160,000.
The three older prefab classrooms at the former Polytech site on Cameron Street were being sold for $1 each, but the tenderers need to pay for the removal by March 14.
The tenders closed on November 13 and the council is working through the sale process.
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
-
53.1% Yes
-
46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
Loading…
