Mayor and local MP welcome positive step in Hutt City housing plan

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace and local list MP Ginny Andersen say a meeting with Housing Minister Phil Twyford and Housing NZ yesterday is a positive step towards a partnership that could make a real difference for generations of Hutt City residents to come.

The meeting was to discuss Housing NZ’s (HNZ) plans to build 300 new units in Lower Hutt and also refurbish existing stock.

Mayor Wallace says he welcomes the project as it will provide much needed, high-quality housing stock in Lower Hutt, and contribute significantly to Council’s own work to rejuvenate the city.

“We believe HNZ’s upcoming investment into Lower Hutt presents a great opportunity to work more closely together to create a collaborative and holistic, long-term approach to housing in our city, which builds on the initial project now getting underway in Epuni.

“We are putting the long-term wellbeing of tamariki, their whanau and communities at the heart of decision-making, and it would be great to include social housing in that.

“Today’s meeting was a positive one. We have agreed to work together going forward and I want to make sure we keep this momentum going.”

Ginny Andersen, Labour MP based in Hutt South says “A strong relationship between this Government and the Council is crucial to delivering more affordable housing to people in the Hutt. I am committed to doing everything I can to see the Epuni development proceed as quickly as possible. It’s just great to see the Minister for Housing and the Mayor agreeing to prioritise this housing development.”

Mayor Wallace says the Council will continue to support HNZ with work on Phase One of its Epuni development, which will see 25 large, modern family homes built on landscaped sections. Construction is planned to begin later this year with the first tenants moving in, in late 2019.

ENDS

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