Welcome Upgrade For Social Housing Units

After years of waiting Kaipara District Council’s Social Housing tenants in Dargaville and Ruawai are having their units completely revamped in a $1.02 million refurbishment which began on Monday (March 31).

The upgrade, funded by Housing New Zealand Corporation, sees 22 units at Kauri Court and Avonlea in Dargaville plus 12 at Ruawai repainted and getting new carpet and vinyl, modernised kitchens, showers and wet areas, new water heaters and improved decking. Doors are being made more elderly/disability friendly and some units will also gain disabled access.

Kaipara Community Development Facilitator Heidi Dreyer, who acts as landlord, says the work will bring the units to a standard where they will be self sufficient for 20 years without costing Kaipara ratepayers or imposing significant rent increases on tenants.

Contractors, King Bros, began at Awakino Road and are upgrading one unit at a time, spending an average of two weeks on each.

While this is happening tenants will move to alternative accommodation arranged by the Council. Some from Awakino Road are being moved to Kauri Court where units have deliberately not been refilled in anticipation of the upgrade. Others will stay with families or friends.

“It will be a stressful time for them but we are making a big effort to keep this to an absolute minimum and are working with each person to accommodate his or her individual needs” Heidi says.

“And at the end of the day they will be getting hugely improved accommodation from this central government windfall at no extra cost to them or Kaipara ratepayers.”

James Russell-Herd, who has been at Kauri Court for 2½ years, says the upgrade is very welcome, especially as it will not result in a rent hike. “It is badly needed and they are carrying it out in a very business-like manner”.

“Heidi Dreyer has made herself available to everyone and has treated each tenant individually. King Bros have also been exceptionally understanding.”

Housing New Zealand Corporation, Housing Partnerships Northland Project Manager Darlene Lang says local authorities play an important role in providing social housing and, through the Housing Innovation Fund, the Corporation has been able to support Kaipara District Council to provide funding to modernise its housing.

“A number of communities have already benefited from council housing projects funded by the Housing Innovation Fund and Housing New Zealand Corporation is very pleased to be able to work with the Kaipara District Council and look forward to an ongoing partnership with them.”

The Council’s Social Housing units were previously known as Pensioner Housing but the criteria has been broadened to include people with special needs for housing.

They are run as a stand alone entity and are not subsidised by Kaipara ratepayers.