Cheap land has been made available for Christchurch red-zone refugees.
Eighteen low-cost sections are being offered to Christchurch homeowners having to move out of the residential red zone.
The Canterbury Co-operative Land Trust was offering 18 sections on Rolleston’s Dunns Crossing Rd to red zoners for $113,000 to $139,000 – up to 40 per cent cheaper than other sections in the area, trustee Grant MacKinnon said.
MacKinnon said the savings were genuine and all the trust needed was 18 households to “take up the opportunity”.
The charitable trust was established last year in response the lack of affordable sections available in Canterbury following the region’s earthquakes.
The trust had previously offered 14 low-cost sections in a half-completed subdivision in Linwood, but failed to secure enough interest by the March deadline.
At the time trustee Simon White said the trust had viewed the subdivision as a “potential quick-win” but did not have enough time to sell all the sections.
Burwood-Pegasus city councillor Glenn Livingstone, who supported the trust, said the latest offer was “rare good news” for red-zone residents facing ongoing struggles to secure affordable housing in Christchurch.
“The trust has worked long hours in a voluntary capacity to get these sections up and running.
“This development will be our template going forward for further affordable sections.”
Those who wanted to purchase a section must have been a homeowner in one of the residential red zones in the greater Christchurch area.
Potential buyers could register their interest in the sections online at canterburyaffordablesections.org.nz.
Sections would be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
Written by Fairfax News
