Construction to begin on new council housing project
“The Miller St houses will be warm, dry and healthy homes for a vulnerable segment of our community.”
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Construction on a new Invercargill City Council housing project is set to begin following a whakawātea (blessing) at the site in Miller St.
The second stage of Council’s Housing Innovation Project will involve the building of six new units on the Council-owned site, following the first stage in Stirrat St last year.
Waihōpai Rūnaka representative Evelyn Cook performed a karakia and blessing of the site on Monday 12 May, symbolically opening the space to the project before physical work begins.
Invercargill City Council Group Manager Infrastructure Erin Moogan said the new units were the next chapter in Invercargill’s commitment to improving elderly housing.
“The Miller St houses will be warm, dry and healthy homes for a vulnerable segment of our community.”
Like the Stirrat St project, in which four modern, energy-efficient units were completed last April, the Miller St units would have a strong focus on sustainability and accessibility.
“The units will be built to the standardised design developed as part of our Stirrat St project,” Moogan said.
“This approach has enabled the team to plan the project efficiently, which will get spades in the ground and ultimately see tenants in the new homes much faster.”
The location in Miller St was chosen for the size of its sections and proximity to amenities that tenants may require. The units will have access to shared areas for washing lines and parking for tenants.
Investment in elderly housing was agreed by Council as part of the Long-term Plan consultation process last year, with $7.7 million allocated to future housing projects.
Moogan said submissions on the Long-term Plan reiterated community support for replacing and upgrading Council-owned units faster.
“After considering the community’s views, elected members have given a clear direction to focus on housing for elderly people.”
Council currently owns 216 Elderly Person Housing units across Invercargill and Bluff, including the four recently completed homes in Stirrat St.
The Stirrat St units were built to high energy efficiency standards, using modern, sustainable materials that ensure they are economical to heat, easy to maintain, and stay warm and dry.
Moogan said the Housing Innovation Project was about investing in the future of Invercargill city and its people.
“The new Elderly Person Housing units embody our vision, He Ngākau Aroha – Our City with Heart, and reflect Council's commitment to meeting the needs of our community now and in the future.”
Construction of the Miller St units is scheduled to be completed near the end of the year.
Who will be carrying out the Blessing (whakawotsit), will it be Christian or Satanic, and how much will it cost the poor beleaguered ratepayers of The Big Smoke (Invercargill)?