Proposal to gift land for affordable housing considered

The Central Otago District Council today (Wednesday 6 July) considered a proposal to gift land to develop a secure homes model in the region, requested by the Central Otago Affordable Housing Trust.

Following a robust discussion, in which the Council considered the results of a recent public survey on affordable housing, the majority of Councillors voted not to endorse the proposal.

At the meeting, Councillors noted the results of the public survey. The community was asked if it agreed to Council supporting the development of affordable housing in the district and to contributing land potentially worth the equivalent of $16 million, to the Central Otago Affordable Housing Trust.

Matters raised by Councillors included the potential impact on rates at a time of increasing costs to the community and whether this was the role of Council as opposed to Central Government.