Residential potential identified

The Clutha District Council will meet a surveyor this week to explore converting a 27ha former forestry block in North Balclutha into a residential area.

The council's chief executive, Steve Hill, said the move to create a residential or lifestyle block area, much like Clutha's recent acquisition of the former Rosebank sawmill site, was ''planned opportunism''.

The land at McNeil St and Johnston Rd was council-owned and leased to a farmer for grazing purposes.

To ''free it up'' for residential growth aligned with the council's new growth strategy, adopted with the long-term plan in June, behind establishing an industrial park at the southern edge of Balclutha.

''Again we just apply the same principle: rates-neutral,'' Mr Hill said.

''It's not free land.

''We have to take out the value of that land when we look at a business case.''

During its long-term plan process the council approved its economic development strategy alongside a document Living and Working in the Clutha District which states the council would support: ''initiatives to encourage investment in our district, subject generally to any initiative being, at worst, rates-neutral''.

The document states it is council's role to ''broker opportunities'' to grow the population and assist employers by, in part, looking at ''developing a package'' for the district to attract employees that would include housing opportunities.

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan recently estimated a 700-job surplus in the district.

Mr Hill said within ''the next few months'' the strategic plan could receive councillors' approval, after which the council would get down to ''the serious work'' of creating a concept plan for the area.

At the end of June, the council bought 8ha of land - the former Rosebank Sawmill site - to promote industrial growth in the area after identifying a lack of available land for businesses to grow into in Balclutha.

Residential building opportunities faced the same constraints, Mr Hill said.

The council appointed a site manager for its Rosebank industrial site on July 20 and Mr Hill said that a concept plan should be ready for the site in three months.

''There is a temptation to say that some businesses could move in straight away,'' he said.

''But the problem with that temptation is if you haven't already got your concept plan for the total site sorted out, you may be making a mistake.''

While buildings on the site could be used, internal roading and some infrastructure within the site would be required.

Businesses expressing interest in becoming part of the industrial park were asked to present a more detailed picture of what their requirements would be, so as to make the best use of the space.

''We don't know whether we can accommodate everybody, so it might be a question about how best we use it,'' Mr Hill said.

The council bought the property ''as is'' and was selling items left behind after the sawmill closed, through a tender process on its website.

hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz

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