June 2023

Residents Call For Flood Alert System

Concerned residents from Sunnyside Road and Robinson Road have garnered support from the Coatesville Residents and Ratepayers group to further their goal of improving the safety in this floodprone area of Coatesville.

The Rangitopuni Stream has flooded numerous times since the start of the year and there have been a number of close calls along Sunnyside Road as a result. Jacqui Cantell from the CRRA and a Sunnyside Road resident, says an early warning alert system is needed to prevent the loss of life in future.

"People don't realise that if they head down Sunnyside Road when it's flooding, the water comes up in 15-30 minutes and it's fast moving. If they come across it suddenly and try to

drive through it, they could be swept away in their vehicle. And there's no emergency services standing by to help them."

Jacqui says so far locals have helped those who've got into trouble, some using jet skis and boats, "but they're not trained rescuers and there's a real risk they could end up being swept away too," she says.

In times of emergency, the residents group is now putting out cones and signs to alert drivers to the flood risk. "But we've found that even when we explain the dangers to some motorists, they still try to drive through the flood water and then call out for help when they get stuck."

Fears Rise Over Flooding on Sunnyside Rd

Coatesville locals concerned about flooding on Sunnyside Road during recent storms are taking action to improve safety for all road users.

After the flood events in January and

The Sunnyside Road Residents Group presented their concerns at the July CRRA committee meeting, asking the group to help them achieve traction with the Rodney Local Board.

Owen Aspden, a Sunnyside Road resident and the group's spokesperson, said recent flooding on 12 July had caused a car to become stranded.

According to the Sunnyside Residents Group there are two on the road where it is below water level. They propose raising level of the road in these two to reduce the risk to road users.

"We don't want to wait until case scenario happens and loses their life before action says Owen.

At the moment, residents on road place traffic cones at the areas to make motorists aware

Photo

Sunnyside Rd and Robinson Rd residents met with officals including MP Mark Mitchell to discuss flooding issues on 15 May.

February, police were called in to stop drivers on Sunnyside Road from ignoring the road closure.

CRRA chair Mike Rowe reached out to MP Mark Mitchell via his Transport Forum for support. Mark was among the group to visit the site on 15 May together with local residents, Mike Rowe, Local Board member Louise Johnston and Beth Houlbrooke from Auckland Transport. AT's Healthy Waters experts and Councillor Greg Sayers were among the group who made a second site visit on 1 June, so the issue has support at every level.

In the climate emergencies at the start of the year, Jacqui says Civil Defence was overwhelmed.

"We've got to act locally, so we've formed a Whatsapp group with key people in the community about what's going on in the broader area so we can stay up to date and take action at the right time to keep people safe. So far this system has worked well," she says.

"We need an affordable system that interfaces with Google Maps to discourage people from cutting through the area during a flood," says Jacqui. "At the moment, if people use Google Maps to find the fastest way through Coatesville, they will be sent down Sunnyside Road, sometimes straight into floodwater. Google Maps has to change its messaging."

For now, work is in progress but Jacqui says "Auckland Transport have said that they appreciate the community involvement and also the fact we have been able to establish a positive dialogue with them."

When Healthy Waters comes back with their findings, we'll reconvene with Mark and and keep the community informed well ahead of events, she says.

Diary Dates

Winter has officially started even though the dreary weather lately has felt wintery for weeks. It can be hard to keep your spirits up when the lawn's too wet to mow and the garden looks a mess with wet leaves everywhere. So hopefully this issue of the Coatesville Chronicle will help to bring some colour to your day.

There are 11 colour pages, some bursting with bright shades. There's even news about colourful events. For example Coatesville School's colour run this month will be a sight to behold as children are pelted with colourful paint powders as they run around an obstacle course. This is like the Indian Holi festival and looks like heaps of fun.

Pest Free Coatsville is doing brilliant work having more than doubled its trapping network and dispatched more than 7000 pest animals, read the full story on page 7.

The CRRA are working alongside official channels to help make floodprone Sunnyside Road safer for locals and road users. And normally, at this time of year, the Chronicle promotes the CRRA AGM. However, this year the AGM is being held a little later probably in the August-September timeframe before the general election.

And, to finish on a high, in this issue you can win a copy of Diana Harris's new book. Check out the information on page 5. It sounds like a perfect winter read.

So, what are you waiting for?

The Coatesville Chronicle is distributed free to homes in the RD3 postal area. Deadline for content is 20th of the month prior to publication. The opinions published herein are not necessarily those of the publisher, Cradle Publications Limited. © 2023 All rights reserved.

Our latest specials will ensure you look and feel your best this season.

A winter blues facial will bring back your glow and our companion laser hair removal offer means you pay for one area and get another free! Call and book today!

∞ 14 June, Wednesday, 2-5pm, Albany Village Library Drop in session, find out more about the Future Development Strategy for Auckland.

∞ 16 June, Friday, Coatesville School Colour Run Check out page 6 for more information.

∞ 22 June, Thursday, Winter Solstice It's the shortest day! Not the coldest day yet, though.

∞ 24 June, Saturday, Coatesville School Quiz Night fundraiser. This adults-only evening is a FOTS event so check out their Facebook page for more information.

∞ 25 June, Sunday, 9.30-11.30 am Tree Pruning and Care Workshop, Kaipara Coast Plant Centre If you want to make the most of your fruit trees or maybe you’re thinking of planting some new ones, then this is a good time of year to do this.

∞ 30 June, Friday Term two ends today at Coatesville School. Time to chillax over the holidays until term three starts on 17 July.

∞ 10 July, Monday, Girls' Friendship Workshop at the Settlers Hall This 3-hour workshop is hosted by internationally experienced facilitator, Racheal Wallis and is designed for girls aged 8-11yrs. For more information and to find out about the workshops for boys, go to www.strongerwithin.org

∞ 14 July, Friday, Matariki Matariki, also known as "the rising of the star constellation", is a significant time in the Māori calendar, as it marks the start of the Māori New Year.

RTC approves Auckland’s draft speed management plan for public consultation

Auckland Transport Media Release, 30 May 2023

The Regional Transport Committee (RTC) has approved Katoa, Ka Ora – Auckland’s draft speed management plan for 2024-27, to go out for public consultation in late July.

The plan focuses on implementing safe speed limits around 358 schools, as well as in communities where there is support for change.

Katoa, Ka Ora is Auckland Transport’s (AT’s) first speed management plan for Auckland. It’s different from speed limit work done to date because it’s under the new speed limit rule that was put in place in early 2022.

AT’s Stacey van der Putten, Executive General Manager of Safety, says AT is determined that people should not be harmed as they move around Auckland. The speed management plan is a part of achieving that.

“Everybody deserves to get home safely and that’s why Auckland Transport is committed to the vision that everyone is alive, healthy and well in this plan, which is expressed in its name – Katoa, Ka Ora."

Katoa, Ka Ora is projected to prevent deaths and serious injuries - while only minimally changing journey times. The impact in terms of time is an increase of less than 15 seconds over an average 20-minute car journey.

NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Sam Hoyle says most Aucklanders would

agree that keeping our tamariki safe around schools is incredibly important.

“We know from our work in the community that parents are feeling concerned about their children’s safety as they travel to and from school. Speed management is a vital part of the work involved to keep children safe as they move around Tāmaki Makaurau.”

Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health Dr Michael Hale says speed is a factor in around 70 per cent of injury crashes in New Zealand.

“This is shocking because it is so preventable. Speed causes some crashes, because it makes it harder for us to take in everything going on, plus we travel further before we stop. Even when speed wasn’t the reason for the crash, how fast you go usually decides if you live or die.”

Rodney Local Board’s Deputy Chair Louise Johnston says: “We urgently need to roll out safe speeds outside of our rural schools. These are our most vulnerable road users and it is our job to protect children. 60 and 80 km/hr speeds outside schools are just not acceptable. We can’t have different standards between urban and rural schools. Regardless of the reason for a vehicle crash, the speed limit will determine the outcome. This is just physics and you can’t argue with science.”

Haven In Albany

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A Day in the Waikato

ooming along the bus lanes, our bus journeyed then onto the new Waikato Expressway taking members of the Garden Club off for an exciting day in and around Cambridge.

The countryside was fresh and green and our first town garden was a small gem, immaculate and intense. The owner Jeanette had transformed the garden totally in six years using small shrubs and trees which were either topiaried or espaliered to make the most of the space. There was variety in the types of structures, plants, vegetables and climbers to make the most of every square metre! The colour palette was refreshing with green and silver foliage and mostly white blooms – all in top condition. Our next garden was a hydrangea fest. Owner Jan Mathers has made it her mission to collect and grow as many varieties as she can to understand their growth patterns and maintenance. Her introduction and talk (in the garage) set the stage for an informed walk around the garden display. She had gone to a lot of trouble to set up information cards in the relevant areas of the garden to display her exhibits. We had a very pleasant boxed lunch to eat in the picnic areas, in humid conditions with fine conditions overhead, much to everyone’s surprise (having come on the trip armed with coats and umbrellas).

Next, we visited the new garden (just a year old) of Helen Haycock on the outskirts of Cambridge. Great to see an early stalwart of the club and that she had not lost her gardening touch. Variations in foliage, good use of espaliered forms and vigorous vegetables in built up gardens for ease of maintenance, were some of the joys to behold. Mulch was provided by plane leaves (from the trees lining the street), like a blanket over the soil, stifling the weeds and providing future frost protection.

A visit to a local nursery finished off the day – always popular! Many thanks to Tony and Christine Peek who organised the gardens and scheduled the day.

Reflecting on gardening on Kawau for April’s three visits – we completed the development of the herb garden, the hedges and edges around the citrus were sharpened up, and the lawns were mowed and edges trimmed. Winter pruning is on the horizon! The highlight was meeting up with a fellow heritage gardener from Wellington’s “Glenside “ project. Claire had refreshing ideas regarding plant choices, maintenance and restoration projects for the future. We will be in constant correspondence with her. She was in awe of our work and the scale of our tasks. All the more reason for our continued visits; we certainly make a difference and that is appreciated by ranger Thomas and DOC.

By Jenny Hunter

Tony Peek thanks Jan Mathers for hosting the CCGC garden visit.

Bayleys Pinot and Platters

Bayleys Coatesville's annual drinks get together attracted a great crowd on 19 May. Hosted by Jonathan de Jong, General Manager of Bayleys North Shore, the guest speaker was Andrew Hay an insurance specialist from the Apex Group Ltd. Andrew spoke about the impact on insurance of the recent climate events and said it's a good idea to look at your home and contents policy because around 50 percent of Kiwi homes are underinsured!

Book giveaway

The Coatesville Chronicle has a copy of local author Diana Harris's new novel to give away to a lucky reader. Howling in The Wilderness is a new take on the Treaty of Waitangi from the point of view of two real people who lived at the time, Henry and Marianne Williams. The couple came to New Zealand to spread the gospel to the Maori people and were far from well received by the white settlers. To go into the draw to win, email your name, address and phone number to Coatesvillechronicle@gmail. com before 30 June.

The winner will be announced in the July issue.

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Coatesville Motors

Mike Rowe and Belinda Brice

Ailsa McArthur and Vanessa Johnson

FOTS, Putting the FUN in Fundraiser FOTS, Putting the FUN in Fundraiser

At Coatesville School, the Friends of the School (FOTS) team are busy organising a couple of fun events to help raise money to upgrade one of the school’s playgrounds.

When rebuilt, the refurbished ‘yellow slide’ playground will bring hours of enjoyment for Coatesville children for many years. In the meantime, the first fundraising event promises to bring an hour or so of intense excitement for students.

Scheduled for June 16th, the first ever Coatesville School Colour Run will see the children complete a fun obstacle course, all while being pelted

with powdered paint. It promises to be very colourful, a bit chaotic, and very messy. The kids will love it!

FOTS have secured seven key sponsors to fund the seven different colour paints (many thanks to Harrisons Solar, Urbis Landscapes, The Sweat Shop, New World Albany, Citywide Plumbing and Pumps, Frana Becker – Bayleys Real Estate, and North Harbour Water Carriers).

The children are currently asking family and friends to sponsor their efforts on the day, and all the money they raise will go directly to the new playground. The FOTS team says the children’s

Kids Stand Up Against Bullying

Kids Stand Up Against Bullying

fundraising efforts are off to a roaring start.

FOTS is still welcoming donations for spot prizes for the children, awarded during the buildup to the event and on the day itself. If you can help out, please get in touch.

As for the parents and friends of the school, FOTS has begun work organising a quiz night. This adultonly event promises to be an evening of hilarity and friendly (if intense) competition.

The quiz night is being held on Saturday June 24 th, and FOTS are eager to find people willing to donate spot prizes for this event too.

Coatesville School students and staff showed their true colours at a whole school assembly last month on Pink Shirt Day, by wearing something pink.

The year six students in the photo led the assembly and explained to their peers the meaning behind the international anti-bullying day, which started in Canada after a boy was bullied for wearing a pink t-shirt.

In a statement of solidarity, all the students and staff got into some

pink clothes and others went all-out with zany glasses and accessories. The year six students reminded the school about the importance of being inclusive in the playground as well as not standing by if someone else is being bullied. They were impressive ambassadors for the worthy cause. And the Pink Shirt Day games at lunchtime helped to make sure the message was well received by everyone.

Looking ahead, the big item on the FOTS agenda is Ag Day, which is a great day out for the whole community. The buildup for this begins in July and there are many jobs for the team to tackle before the big day, scheduled for October 14th. It’s an important fundraiser for the school, but a mammoth undertaking for FOTS. Fortunately for the school, that’s what friends are for.

If you would like to donate a spot prize for either the Coatesville School Colour Run or the Quiz Night, please contact Mary Bell marysearlebell@gmail.com or phone 021 676 034.

PFC's Awesome Network Growth

Pest animals are well and truly in the sights of Pest Free Coatesville's team of volunteers based on the latest map showing their trap and bait station locations.

Back in 2021, map 1 shows there were 475 traps and 276 bait stations situated around the Coatesville area. However today, as shown by map 2 on the right, there are now 1141 traps, 335 bait stations and 17 monitoring stations targeting pest animals.

This data is reliably captured in the TrapNZ app that the group uses to chart its progress. However, group leader Gary Langridge estimates there are roughly 20 percent more traps and bait stations in use in the area by people who haven't signed up to TrapNZ.

He says since starting out the group can confirm it has eradicated 7200 pest animals and is ahead of schedule to meet its five-year goal.

"When we started, we were setting out to do a job that was moonbeam's" says Gary. "At the rate we're going it will come to fruition in 12 months time given the traps and grants we have available. We will reach our target in three to four years instead of the five years we planned and that has happened in spite of the 18 months of Covid when we weren't able to get out and do much at all."

Soon, another 400-500 traps will go into the eastern boundary and across to the Paremoremo Reserve. And Gary says that will provide stronger coverage in the south and also along the western boundary backing onto Paremoremo Reserve.

"When we get to 2500 traps that will put us in the extermination level," he says.

Although the hardware is impressive, the group's success comes down to the commitment of its volunteers. Gary says, "It's hats off to Coatesville's volunteers. They continue to go out in all weather across really tough, muddy terrain laying bait and setting traps. The Green Road and Sunnyside Road teams have to handle some really tough conditions. Sometimes it's like walking in quicksand but they still do it."

Over the next few months the PFC will explore the core habitat areas and install 40 AT220 traps. "These are outstanding killing machines and will do some real damage to predators," says Gary.

Since winter has arrived and rats are looking for food and shelter, he recommends property owners keep their bait stations fully loaded, checking every 2-3 days until activity slows.

Marja

2023 Trap and bait station locations in 2023

2021 Trap and bait station locations

Local Board News

By Louise Johnston

Ihave often been critical of Council for urbanising rural land without providing the necessary transport infrastructure. You don’t need to look very far to see some good examples of this, such as Kumeu, where SH16 has become a massive car park during rush hour. Under Auckland Council’s current unitary plan, future Coatesville will be a rural oasis surrounded by mass urbanisation with future development planned in all directions, including Dairy Flat with 100,000 new residents and further urbanisation in both Riverhead, Kumeu and Albany.

The Supporting Growth team is a collaboration between Auckland Transport, Council and Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Over the last 5 years they have been working on investigating and planning transport projects to support the planned urban growth in Auckland. Unfortunately, having spent millions on the planning, cash-strapped Council have no funding for construction of these projects within the foreseeable future. This has been termed a “significant challenge”.

Given this backdrop it is rather timely that Council has come out with a draft development strategy for Auckland. Council is proposing massive changes for where new housing will go. This will impact much of the surrounding areas of Coatesville. As part of this strategy, Council is recommending

that areas earmarked for future urban development that are prone to natural hazard risks are rezoned. This includes large parts of the future urban zone in Kumeu and Riverhead. For Dairy Flat, Council is looking at reviewing future urban areas outside of the proposed industrial zone. Much of this land is prone to flooding.

Included in this draft strategy is the proposal to move the timing significantly out of when urban development can occur, and in some cases this is past 2050.

Personally, I have several concerns about the impact of pushing out the timing of development so far. If property is land banked for this long, we will see more derelict houses, falling down fences and properties becoming invaded by weeds and pests.

Another concern is the weakness in the Unitary plan that allows for ‘rural industry’ to operate within the future urban zone. There have

Thinking of selling

been several consents granted recently for very industrial type activities under the guise of rural industry. This is resulting in very haphazard industrial zone developing with no landscape or infrastructure to support the changes. If these areas can’t develop for decades this problem will only get worse. There is the argument that if you don’t need to develop the future urban land in the next 40 years then maybe it should be rezoned back to Countryside living.

From what I have been hearing most Aucklanders would agree that Council should not allow for any further building on flood plains going forward. This includes future rapid transport networks, commercial and residential buildings.

I imagine there will considerable push back from developers and many landowners on this proposed strategy. It is important that feedback is provided by all the community. This strategy will shape the surrounding areas of Coatesville in the future decades. Unfortunately, urban sprawl has already happened in Auckland but we now have a chance to have our say on what happens next!

You can provide feedback online from 6 June to 4 July 2023 using the link below. https://akhaveyoursay. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/futuredevelopment-strategy

There will also be a drop-in session on Wednesday 14 June at Albany Village Library from 2‒5pm. Louise.johnston@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz

Louise Johnston

Setting Up for Success

Cathy and Dan decided that they would like to own their own business to give themselves more flexibility as their two sons moved through their teenage years. They settled on becoming a franchisee of a well-known international franchise.

They went to see their lawyer and their accountant to start the due diligence process. Both of them suggested that they should consider setting up a trust. Trusts are a great way of protecting assets (e.g. the family home) if you are in business for yourself or a company director. The best time to set up a trust is when there are no threats on the horizon. As asset structuring has become very complex over the last five to ten years, their lawyer recommended that they see a specialist trust lawyer.

Their accountant told them that there was great tax flexibility in holding income producing assets (i.e. the shares in the business which owned the franchise) in a trust. The trust tax rate is 33% (as opposed to the top personal marginal rate of 39%) and any income used to help their teenage boys could be allocated to them at their marginal tax rates.

Cathy and Dan took their lawyer's

advice and went to a specialist trust lawyer to set up a trust. She told them that it would be important that she worked as part of the team with their other lawyer, their accountant and also their banker. She wanted to ascertain from their other lawyer if there would be any guarantees within the franchise agreement, and also the lease, that they would have to enter into to secure the premises for the business.

Their other lawyer confirmed that not only were Cathy and Dan giving personal guarantees, but the fine print of the franchise agreement stated that the shareholders of any company who was the franchisee would be guaranteeing the terms of

the franchise agreement as well. If Cathy and Dan put all their assets into one trust, those assets (i.e. the family home) would be used to guarantee the obligations of the franchisee under the franchise agreements.

In cases like this, it was advisable to set up two trusts – one for the family home and one for the business and riskier assets. It also could help with making sure that any banking arrangements for the business didn’t impact the family home.

The specialist trust lawyer also took them through updating their wills, memorandum of wishes and enduring powers of attorney. These set out their wishes in relation to the trust and what would happen with the trust assets if one, or both of them, died or lost capacity.

Cathy and Dan were so grateful to their lawyer for referring them to a specialist trust lawyer so that they were able to gain expert structuring advice at the outset of their business owning journey. Owning their own business was a massive step for them and to be properly set up, gave them peace of mind.

Tammy McLeod, Trust Law specialist, Managing Director, Davenports Law.

Tammy McLeod

Kumeu Village opened in 2015 in the heart of Kumeu, offering private luxury Rest Home, Hospital and Dementia Care. We operate under the values of the Eden Alternative Philosophy of care, which means, the way we treat our Residents is the way we would a friend or beloved family member.

Privately owned and operated, the owners work closely with our committed and experienced team of nurses, care partners, lifestyle staff, cooks, and administrators to ensure every day at Kumeu Village is enriching, safe and comfortable.

MOVING INTO CARE

We pride ourselves on having an open-door policy for residents, families and staff.

Our mission is to provide love, compassion and companion ship to all.

For all enquiries or to book a visit, please call: Georgia on 412 9112 or Belinda 021 412 242 or info@kumeuvillage.co.nz

To make your loved one’s move into care as stress-free as possible, we’ve outlined some steps you can take:

1. Needs Assessment.

2. Name of Enduring Power of Attorney.

3. Choose the Right Room.

4. Paying for Care.

5. Moving In.

If you need any help along the way, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

Email: info@kumeuvillage.co.nz

The Ladybug is located in Coatesville and is a specialised home designed for ladies living with dementia to live and thrive. Ladybug is one of the only homes in New Zealand of its kind.

507 State Highway 16, Kumeu

A1 Sure Services Tree Care All aspects of tree work, stump grinding and land clearance. Qualified arborists. Full Insurance. Free quotes. 446 1258 or 021 175 8660

Accomodation Boutique homestay in Coatesville. Self-contained peaceful private suite in our sunny north-facing country garden for up to 4 people. Perfect stay for local weddings or functions, 2 minutes to Coatesville Hall. Contact : Pat 021 316 781 pat@maddisons.nz www.maddisons. nz/homestay

Agricultural contractor mulching/ gorse clearing, mowing (& lawns), rotary hoeing/seeding, stump grinding, Graeme 027 533 3114

Bruce Gillespie Fencing For all lifestyle block and farm fencing. Phone 027 273 1793

Clean Queen I'll have your house looking like a castle. References supplied. Ph Angela 021 0832 9352

Coatesville Mulch Mowing 1 to 50 acres, local contractor, affordable rates. Phone Warren and Brenda Mills on 415 6503 or 021 191 4195

Connect Electrics For all your electrical solutions, Phone Kris 022 332 6663 or 412 6066

GET IN SHAPE Local private gym for one-on-one training or small group sessions, specialising in weight loss, general fitness and rehabilitation. Call Debbie 027 441 8769.

Haven Hair Design Need a completely new look or just a trim? Senior hair stylist and salon owner Lisa Cross will help you look and feel your best. Phone 09 415 4424 or book online www.havenhairdesign.co.nz

LAWN MOWING, You Grow & Joe will mow. Lifestyle, commercial and residential. Ph Joe 021 624 494 / joseph@propertyfit.co.nz

Local Shearer, Kevin Abel, 021 223 5033

Odd Job Company For building and landscaping projects, contact Peter 027 453 0570

Painters & Decorators Marshall Painters can help with all your painting

needs; interiors, exteriors, even waterblasting to make sure you get the top quality finish we're famous for. With over 50 years experience in the company, we have the skills you need. Call Marcus on 021 024 86516 or email marshallpainters@gmail.com.

Pilates in Coatesville Hall, Thursday @ 6pm. Special – 2 free lessons for new clients. $12 school term, $15 concession card and $20 casual class. Contact Abraham on 021 122 1530 or abrahampardo@gmail.com

Professional Oven Cleaning

All size ovens, local references and great service from an experienced professional. Text Kiri 021 233 6028 Scout Marquee for hire, 6m x 8m, $250 per day. Call Garth 447 1863

The Blooming Beekeeper fully maintained beehive service. The ideal eco-friendly gift. Bee packages; beekeeping lessons; artisan bee products; swarm catching. Coatesville based. Call Val 021 755 833.

Who’s your caterer? Beautifully presented, great tasting food, at competitive prices. Phone Helen Cato 415 7771 or 021 211 8223.

Zumba at the Coatesville Settlers Hall on Mondays at 10am. $15 per session or $12 each if you buy five. For more information, call Hana 021 02212714.

Opportunity Still Exists!

From media reports, to financial advisor speculation, to dinner conversations over a glass of wine, there have been mixed messages. Everything from total doom − if following the American markets to a more positive angle from the likes of Tony Alexander who suggests the bottom of the real estate market could be near, although reading more in depth, this doesn’t necessarily mean a rise is imminent, more that the ‘bottom’ could be our ‘new norm’ for the foreseeable future. So let’s see how Coatesville is fairing based on the REINZ (Real Estate Institute of NZ) stats and the reality of what’s happening on the ground in our local property market. One thing to be very clear is, the positivity of vendors wanting to genuinely move on to their next stage, although in reality negotiations are not for the faint hearted. However, regardless of whether a good or bad market, buyers want to buy for the least amount possible and vendors want to sell for the most money they can get. Nothing changes through these different markets.

Here’s the difference right now in a less buoyant market banks are limiting bridging lending so any bridging obtained is achieved through second tier lending which comes at a cost. With that said, buyers are doing what they can to make a deal work. Luckily, banks have also now lifted some of their lending criteria rules, making money ever-so-slightly easier to obtain, in a number of cases. Many buyers are buying subject to selling their home, meaning that once the price has been negotiated, the vendors need to wait patiently for their buyers to sell and more importantly sell at the right level.

Here are the latest local statistics ... There have been 11 lifestyle sales in Coatesville and surrounding area (including Lucas Heights and Riverhead) since January and across all price ranges, however this number does not include properties that are under contract.

Real time snapshot my team (myself, Chelsea and Ani) are currently selling 23 properties in Coatesville, Riverhead and Dairy Flat area. Of these, 7 are bare land blocks, leaving 16 homes across all price ranges from $1,750,000 to $7,500,000. Of these, 6 are under contract (all subject to the buyers selling their houses). So, one third are ‘sold’ albeit with conditions.

Over the last three weeks I have had three properties go unconditional, so regardless of any negativity, when buyers get those warm fuzzy feels of their new home, I can make the deal happen. Call me now, as in this current market, having the best negotiator is critical!