Latest news with #NadineTaylor
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Marlborough Council Spends Almost $1.8m On Central Blenheim Site
The Marlborough District Council has bought land beside its new Blenheim library and art gallery, earmarking it as a future space for community activities. Located between High St and Wynen St, the land is made up of five freehold titles with a total area of 1147m². The council paid $1,787,500 for the site. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the opportunity to buy the site in such a community-focused part of town was one that the council 'could not afford to miss'. 'This purchase is about future-proofing a vital part of Blenheim's town centre for future development opportunities. "The site is next to an iconic council asset – Te Kahu o Waipuna – a special building which has quickly established itself as a hub for our community,' she said. 'Council has decided to secure the site to ensure what is developed is complementary to our library and art gallery, [and] adds value to our CBD and to our community at large.' The site had been largely empty since the City Hotel building, built in the early 1900s, was demolished in 2014. While the council had no immediate plans for the area, Taylor said the purchase would open up a conversation on the future of central Blenheim. 'We [will] explore options for the best long-term use of this site. We are keen to get the community's input and this will happen as part of council's planning processes.' Group manager property and community facilities Jamie Lyall said the council bought the site for within 10% its valuation and would pay for it with a loan from existing budgets for the first year. 'This purchase shows [the] council is prepared to invest in the future of the Blenheim CBD. We know there are challenges out there for our retail sector and that the town centre has been changing over time,' Lyall said. 'Step one is to secure the site so we can then consider all future options for it and engage with the public to have their say about its longer term use. 'We have had numerous approaches to council with ideas for developments in the centre of town including parking, apartments and pocket parks.' The site's zoning had no restrictions on the type of development, and a permitted building height of up to 20m.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Purchases Strategic CBD Site
Press Release – Marlborough District Council This purchase is about future proofing a vital part of Blenheims town centre for future development opportunities. The site is next to an iconic Council asset Te Kahu o Waipuna a special building which has quickly established itself as … A site on High Street next to the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery at Te Kahu o Waipuna has been purchased by Marlborough District Council. The property, zoned Business One in the Marlborough Environment Plan, is made up of five freehold titles with frontages to both High Street and Wynen Street and is 1147sqm in area. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the chance to purchase a strategic site such as this did not happen often and was an opportunity Council could not afford to miss. 'This purchase is about future proofing a vital part of Blenheim's town centre for future development opportunities. The site is next to an iconic Council asset – Te Kahu o Waipuna – a special building which has quickly established itself as a hub for our community. Council has decided to secure the site to ensure what is developed is complementary to our library and art gallery, adds value to our CBD and to our community at large. 'It also gives us a chance to talk more broadly about the future of Blenheim's CBD as we explore options for the best long-term use of this site. We are keen to get the community's input and this will happen as part of Council's planning processes,' Mayor Taylor said. Group Manager Property and Community Facilities Jamie Lyall said a valution was obtained for the property and the agreed purchase price was within 10 per cent of that valution. The purchase will be loan funded from existing budgets for the first year. 'This purchase shows Council is prepared to invest in the future of the Blenheim CBD. We know there are challenges out there for our retail sector and that the town centre has been changing over time. 'Over the past three or four years we have had numerous approaches to Council with ideas for developments in the centre of town including parking, apartments and pocket parks. With this acquisition, we are demonstrating Council is committed to the future development of Blenheim's central business district. 'Step one is to secure the site so we can then consider all future options for it and engage with the public to have their say about its longer term use. We are also keen in the more immediate term to improve the site and Council will confirm the plan for this once finalised,' Mr Lyall said. With its current zoning, 100 per cent site coverage could be allowed with any development with a permitted building height up to 20m. 'It is advantageous for Council to be able to control future development of the site so that whatever is done is complementary to the library and art gallery and The Quays public space,' Mr Lyall said.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Purchases Strategic CBD Site
Press Release – Marlborough District Council This purchase is about future proofing a vital part of Blenheims town centre for future development opportunities. The site is next to an iconic Council asset Te Kahu o Waipuna a special building which has quickly established itself as … A site on High Street next to the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery at Te Kahu o Waipuna has been purchased by Marlborough District Council. The property, zoned Business One in the Marlborough Environment Plan, is made up of five freehold titles with frontages to both High Street and Wynen Street and is 1147sqm in area. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the chance to purchase a strategic site such as this did not happen often and was an opportunity Council could not afford to miss. 'This purchase is about future proofing a vital part of Blenheim's town centre for future development opportunities. The site is next to an iconic Council asset – Te Kahu o Waipuna – a special building which has quickly established itself as a hub for our community. Council has decided to secure the site to ensure what is developed is complementary to our library and art gallery, adds value to our CBD and to our community at large. 'It also gives us a chance to talk more broadly about the future of Blenheim's CBD as we explore options for the best long-term use of this site. We are keen to get the community's input and this will happen as part of Council's planning processes,' Mayor Taylor said. Group Manager Property and Community Facilities Jamie Lyall said a valution was obtained for the property and the agreed purchase price was within 10 per cent of that valution. The purchase will be loan funded from existing budgets for the first year. 'This purchase shows Council is prepared to invest in the future of the Blenheim CBD. We know there are challenges out there for our retail sector and that the town centre has been changing over time. 'Over the past three or four years we have had numerous approaches to Council with ideas for developments in the centre of town including parking, apartments and pocket parks. With this acquisition, we are demonstrating Council is committed to the future development of Blenheim's central business district. 'Step one is to secure the site so we can then consider all future options for it and engage with the public to have their say about its longer term use. We are also keen in the more immediate term to improve the site and Council will confirm the plan for this once finalised,' Mr Lyall said. With its current zoning, 100 per cent site coverage could be allowed with any development with a permitted building height up to 20m. 'It is advantageous for Council to be able to control future development of the site so that whatever is done is complementary to the library and art gallery and The Quays public space,' Mr Lyall said.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Purchases Strategic CBD Site
A site on High Street next to the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery at Te Kahu o Waipuna has been purchased by Marlborough District Council. The property, zoned Business One in the Marlborough Environment Plan, is made up of five freehold titles with frontages to both High Street and Wynen Street and is 1147sqm in area. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the chance to purchase a strategic site such as this did not happen often and was an opportunity Council could not afford to miss. 'This purchase is about future proofing a vital part of Blenheim's town centre for future development opportunities. The site is next to an iconic Council asset – Te Kahu o Waipuna – a special building which has quickly established itself as a hub for our community. Council has decided to secure the site to ensure what is developed is complementary to our library and art gallery, adds value to our CBD and to our community at large. 'It also gives us a chance to talk more broadly about the future of Blenheim's CBD as we explore options for the best long-term use of this site. We are keen to get the community's input and this will happen as part of Council's planning processes,' Mayor Taylor said. Group Manager Property and Community Facilities Jamie Lyall said a valution was obtained for the property and the agreed purchase price was within 10 per cent of that valution. The purchase will be loan funded from existing budgets for the first year. 'This purchase shows Council is prepared to invest in the future of the Blenheim CBD. We know there are challenges out there for our retail sector and that the town centre has been changing over time. 'Over the past three or four years we have had numerous approaches to Council with ideas for developments in the centre of town including parking, apartments and pocket parks. With this acquisition, we are demonstrating Council is committed to the future development of Blenheim's central business district. 'Step one is to secure the site so we can then consider all future options for it and engage with the public to have their say about its longer term use. We are also keen in the more immediate term to improve the site and Council will confirm the plan for this once finalised,' Mr Lyall said. With its current zoning, 100 per cent site coverage could be allowed with any development with a permitted building height up to 20m. 'It is advantageous for Council to be able to control future development of the site so that whatever is done is complementary to the library and art gallery and The Quays public space,' Mr Lyall said.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Receives Draft Budget For Annual Plan 2025-26
Marlborough District Councillors received the draft budget for the Annual Plan 2025-26 at a meeting of full Council today. For the coming financial year beginning 1 July 2025 a draft average rates increase for Marlborough ratepayers was presented of 9.42 per cent. With a small number of essential levels of services increases supported including payroll and human resources systems (0.01%), communications (0.06%) and Marlborough Events Centre air conditioning system upgrade (0.03%), adding a further 0.10%, this brought the proposed total draft average rates increase to 9.52 per cent. This is less than the 10.62 per cent originally signalled in Council's Long Term Plan. Further work will now be done to refine and confirm the draft budget prior to its adoption by full Council on 26 June. Mayor Nadine Taylor thanked the public for submitting their ideas through the Annual Plan feedback process earlier this year. 'We gave a strong signal when adopting last year's Long Term Plan (LTP) budget that times are tough right now for everyone including Council and there is very little spare funding around. Council's bottom line has been under significant pressure in recent years, particularly since the two severe rain events that hit Marlborough in 2021 and 2022.' 'The main reasons for this year's increase are the impacts of depreciation at 3.46%, inflationary adjustments at 2.5%, and a further insurance cost increase of 0.75%; all of which add up to 6.71%. These factors are largely outside of Council's control but they have to be accounted for in our budgets,' Mayor Taylor said. 'We are also still paying for the Covid Rates Relief applied during the pandemic to help our ratepayers, the cost of which we decided last year to spread over three years with an impact of 1.5% per year.' Depreciation is the gradual loss of value of an asset over time due to wear and tear. In financial accounting, depreciation spreads the replacement cost of an asset over its useful life. Mayor Taylor thanked Chief Financial Officer Geoff Blake for his diligent work in reducing the draft average rates increase from the 10.62 per cent forecast for this year in the LTP and noted the concerted effort across Council to contain costs as much as possible. Council's forecast net debt has also been reduced to $147M, a reduction of $43M on that forecast in the LTP. Mayor Taylor said almost all the money budgeted in the draft Annual Plan was earmarked for core infrastructure, with $117M allocated in capital expenditure for the coming year. While the bulk of it covered roading, including $29M relating to the recovery of the storm damaged roads in the Marlborough Sounds, $31M is allocated to to three waters infrastructure and a further $8M would go toward community facilites and flood protection. 'Our core projects include work on water supplies around the district to upgrade pipelines, pump stations and water treatment to ensure we meet national standards,' Mayor Taylor said. 'Roading and footpaths are the biggest item of Council capital expenditure with $64M allocated this year for renewals and improvements. Included in this is the $29M to repair and rebuild the damaged Sounds roading network, work on which continues at pace.' Last year $8.7M was allocated by Council for the Spring Creek stopbank repairs project with funding support provided by the Government as well. This previously approved $8.7M is also reflected in the draft Annual Plan.
