15 February 2013

Council to consider future of multiple properties

The future of nine Palmerston North City Council owned properties in the City, Ashhurst and Linton will be considered by Council this month.

Last year the Council reviewed its holdings and identified a number of properties that are delivering minimal or no value to the community.

The identified properties are being assessed by staff and the first tranche will be presented to the Finance and Performance Committee on Monday 18 February.

The properties are estimated to be worth around $1,455,000, of that $365,000 is from Reserve land. If Council approves the sale of those Reserve lands then it is legally bound to invest that money in other Reserve projects.

Senior property and parks planner Aaron Philips says Councillors will consider if the Reserve status be revoked and if property should be sold or not. The committee’s decision will then be referred to the full Council meeting at the end of the month for ratification. Following that staff will begin consultation with the community.

“We want to gauge whether there are values or uses for these properties that we unaware or whether the community agrees with our initial assessment that we would be better off using the funds to improve other Reserves and buy new Reserve land.”

Aaron Philips says some of the land is Crown derived and if Council agreed it was surplus after considering community views, then it will be returned to the Crown. If the Crown has no use for it then it would be sold and the proceeds would be split between the Crown and the Council.
The first tranche includes:
• Vacant section next to the Girl Guide Hall in Panako Place – Crown derived reserve land in a combined title. Net value split around $50,000 each for Crown and Council.
• A closed access way between Panako Place and Awapuni Park – capital value: unknown. Reserve Land.
• Amberley Avenue Reserve, western side – Crown derived reserve land. Net value split around $50,000 each for Crown and Council.
• Ruapehu Drive section, unformed accessway to Titoki Walkway – Net value around $125,000. Reserve land, the access to the new walkway would be retained and constructed.
• Hardie Street Park (part of) corner of Hardie Street and Fitzherbert Avenue – Net value around $140,000. Reserve land.
• Bowen Street, Linton – :Net value could be around $90,000
• Works Pit, Ashhurst – Net value $300,000.
• George Street shops No. 52 and no. 54 – Market valuation of $300,000.
• Deer Park Ashhurst – Net value could be $400,000. The paper road width would be returned to Reserve instead of grazing.
Aaron Philips says it is very early days and it will be some time before final decisions are made about whether to place any of the properties on the market or return them to the Crown.

The review has identified other properties which staff are continuing to assess. They’ll be presented to Council for consideration later this year.

Editor’s notes

Palmerston North City Council property portfolio includes:
• 33 Roading improvement and parking properties
• 28 Community Housing, Community Centre and Community Agency Housing properties
• 12 Cultural and Cemetery properties
• 10 Investment and Public Rental Housing properties
• 5 Operational properties
• 38 Water and Waste properties
• 189 Recreation and ecological properties
• 7 Properties occupied by Kindergartens or Kohanga Reo
• 3 Reserve leasehold properties
• 3 Miscellaneous properties

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