Valuations worry locals
21.12.2007
LAWRENCE GULLERY
Coastal property values are on the up, pleasing some people but disappointing others living in the seaside towns of Haumoana and Te Awanga.
In November, Quotable Value (QV) released its triennial revaluation of 29,957 properties in the Hastings district which will help the Hastings District Council set rates for the 2008/09 year.
Since then, Te Awanga District Ratepayers' Association president Rex Mildenhall said property owners had called him to complain about their valuations.
"Those looking to sell are stoked it's gone up while others that are staying are worried it'll mean they'll have to pay more rates.
"Some can't understand why it's gone up because of the coastal hazard zones and there's a lot of mixed messages out there," he said.
Properties in coastal hazard zone one had building restrictions because they were most at risk from sea erosion. The hazard zones had driven values down compared to three years ago, Mr Mildenhall believes.
There was also a perception people living in zone one would be forced into a "managed retreat", to relocate their homes in the near future.
Mr Mildenhall was also a member of the coastal working party, a group of Hastings district, regional council members and residents, discussing options to deal with sea erosion.
He said a managed retreat was the preferred option by the regional council but probably not by the residents.
Mr Mildenhall lives in the Tukituki Valley but also has a house in Haumoana and said he understood the frustration of people living in the hazard zones.
"Should there be another storm the chances are they won't be allowed back in their homes," he said.
The regional council's coastal hazard zones hearing is under way but it's not likely to finish until April 2008.
QV spokesperson David Nagel said coastal land values had moved 20 per cent on average since 2004. Other inland residential properties had increased 50 to 60 per cent for the same period.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said coastal area rates were unlikely to rise by a big margin.
"This is the first time they (coastal property values) have been similar to the rest of the district," he said.
21.12.2007
LAWRENCE GULLERY
Coastal property values are on the up, pleasing some people but disappointing others living in the seaside towns of Haumoana and Te Awanga.
In November, Quotable Value (QV) released its triennial revaluation of 29,957 properties in the Hastings district which will help the Hastings District Council set rates for the 2008/09 year.
Since then, Te Awanga District Ratepayers' Association president Rex Mildenhall said property owners had called him to complain about their valuations.
"Those looking to sell are stoked it's gone up while others that are staying are worried it'll mean they'll have to pay more rates.
"Some can't understand why it's gone up because of the coastal hazard zones and there's a lot of mixed messages out there," he said.
Properties in coastal hazard zone one had building restrictions because they were most at risk from sea erosion. The hazard zones had driven values down compared to three years ago, Mr Mildenhall believes.
There was also a perception people living in zone one would be forced into a "managed retreat", to relocate their homes in the near future.
Mr Mildenhall was also a member of the coastal working party, a group of Hastings district, regional council members and residents, discussing options to deal with sea erosion.
He said a managed retreat was the preferred option by the regional council but probably not by the residents.
Mr Mildenhall lives in the Tukituki Valley but also has a house in Haumoana and said he understood the frustration of people living in the hazard zones.
"Should there be another storm the chances are they won't be allowed back in their homes," he said.
The regional council's coastal hazard zones hearing is under way but it's not likely to finish until April 2008.
QV spokesperson David Nagel said coastal land values had moved 20 per cent on average since 2004. Other inland residential properties had increased 50 to 60 per cent for the same period.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said coastal area rates were unlikely to rise by a big margin.
"This is the first time they (coastal property values) have been similar to the rest of the district," he said.