Increase in Building Consents A Positive Sign

The increase in the number of building consents issued for the latest four month period is a positive sign of economic growth for the region. While the bulk of the consents have been industrial and commercial, the flow on effect for the local economy is welcomed.

DESPITE a slowdown in the final four months of 2009, Gisborne has had a record year for building consent values. The District Council’s environment and policy committee was told consent numbers for the four-month reporting period had reduced, with fewer new dwelling consents being issued, although the ongoing earthquake repairs had kept numbers up.

Notwithstanding the average numbers, building work values had been at record levels for the months of November, December and January.

These values had been high because of the three big commercial-industrial projects issued in those months – the council’s wastewater plant, the courthouse extension and the Warehouse consent.

The highs of the past two months of 2009 meant that the year finished with a consent total of $92.5 million-worth of building work for the calendar year, surpassing the previous highest year 2007′s figure of $83.5 million, the committee was told.

source: Gisborne Herald 9 April 2010