Building consents gain momentum

BUILDING consents issued by the Manawatu District Council have been quietly gathering momentum over the past four months even though annual numbers and values will be down on previous years.

A total of 735 consents valued at $54.5 million have been issued for the first 11 months of this financial year (to May 31), as against 743 consents at $84.3 million for the same period in 2008/09.

The high value of consents last year was largely due to the start of an extensive building programme at RNZAF base Ohakea.

In the February to May period this year, 341 consents valued at $26.8 million have been issued, compared with 300 consents at $47.8 million for the corresponding four-month period in 2009.

Building Team Leader, Chris Henry, said the building industry in Manawatu had been trending upwards in the past two months, though much of it was small-type work comprising farm sheds, garages and fireplaces.

“The housing market, however, is starting to move again and commercial activity in the district is fairly buoyant,” he said.

Mr Henry said signs for the future were “pretty positive” with a number of builders having up to three months work already booked.

“There has been a steady flow of housing consents as people continue to show a keenness to build in the district,” he said. “We are processing up to seven a month and look to maintain that interest.”

He said Manawatu was noted for its “steady as she goes” approach and did not appear to experience the fluctuating booms associated with other areas.

The second stage of the helicopter hangar development at Ohakea would significantly boost commercial activity, as well as a number of jobs underway in Kimbolton Road, Feilding, and a motel complex at Manfeild.

Mr Henry said there had been good feedback from the building industry regarding the council’s building services.
“Things are looking really positive and we are pretty proud of how we are delivering our service at the moment,” he said.



Annual consents issued



Year Number Value

1998/1999 935 23,711,360

1999/2000 1074 25,429,011

2000/2001 1012 30,049,133

2001/2002 1115 31,338,317

2002/2003 1122 31,662,852

2003/2004 1275 41,177,699

2004/2005 1301 51,000,206

2005/2006 1280 68,050,016

2006/2007 1243 82,414,806

2007/2008 1088 78,513,749

2008/2009 807 86,780,948

2009/2010

(after 11 months) 735 54,575,107