The first newly constructed homes arrive at Alma Road development
Ten houses are now in place at the Alma Road development in Westport, with another eight due to arrive at the site by the end of the month.
The development by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will see 20 homes at the Alma Road site provide temporary accommodation for Westport residents displaced by the floods. Another two homes being built will be deployed elsewhere in Westport.
Of the ten homes on site, four are from a local construction company, South Peak Homes in Westport and six from Laing Properties which made the journey from Hornby, Christchurch over Arthur’s Pass.
Land-use consent for the development was granted by Buller District Council in July, and the West Coast Regional Council have now issued resource consent for the stormwater discharge.
Civil work is well underway – both on and off site. The installation of new sewer and stormwater mains has been completed on site and the stormwater management area excavated. Work on laying stormwater and sewer connections to the house sites is also almost complete with further excavation work for a combined services trench for water, power and data cables underway. A new watermain and sewer will be installed along Alma Road during September.
It is expected the first families will be able to move into homes from late October. The final two houses for the development will be delivered to site in November once the sewer pump station on the south-eastern side is installed. The pump station is being manufactured in Melbourne, Australia and its arrival has been delayed due to COVID-19 and shipping issues. The space for the final two houses will be fenced off and a temporary pump system installed in the meantime.
Registrations for MBIE’s Temporary Accommodation Service are still open for flood affected households in the Westport community who may need accommodation support. If people are unsure of their eligibility, they can call our Matching and Placement team by calling 0508 754 163.
