Fagan Place units to be upgraded

23 June, 2022

Kaipara District Council is planning to upgrade the community housing units in Fagan Place after talks with a Community Housing Provider stalled.

Although still waiting for a final decision by Elected Members, Council staff are looking to refurbish the units and upgrade them to meet healthy home standards. The Council had been negotiating with a Community Housing Provider (CHP) for well over a year, investigating options for them to take over management of the units and building more. However, the parties were unable to reach agreement and the Council is looking to upgrade the units themselves.

John Burt, the Council’s Property, Procurement and Commercial Manager, says units will be upgraded to meet the Healthy Homes standards, before the required July 01, 2024 deadline. At the same time the Council is planning to refurbish the units, including an upgrade of the bathrooms and kitchens.

“We’ve allocated some budget in the Annual Plan 2022/23,” says Burt. “We’re in the process of working out costs and hope to start the work later this year.”

There are currently four empty units that cannot be filled until the upgrades are completed.

“The work will be disruptive for residents, and they may prefer to move into the empty units while the work is completed.”

Council officers have met with residents to discuss plans and will meet with them again to plan the upgrade after the decision is made and the Council has planned and costed the work. Work will be planned over two financial years.

The Annual Plan, and the decision to upgrade the units, is expected to be confirmed by Council at their meeting on Wednesday June 29.

Council staff are looking to refurbish the Fagan Place units and upgrade them to meet healthy home standards. PHOTO/JULIA WADE