Latest news with #Drysdale
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Strategic Bellarine Peninsula motel site well placed for expansion
A Bellarine Peninsula motel at the gateway to Drysdale has sparked the imagination of buyers keen to unlock the potential of the strategic site. The 1.61ha property is currently operating as Lakeview Hideaway, where 10 refurbished motel units provide an established income stream. But Whitford Troost, Newtown listing agent Ryan Troost said there was significant scope to add value, with a restaurant and storage facilities among ideas being tossed around by potential investors. He's calling for expressions of interest in the property, at 186 High St, Drysdale, by August 14. It's expected to fetch in the mid to high $4m range. Mr Troost said it offered the flexibility of an existing income stream, a four-bedroom house and excess land ripe for further expansion or development. The current owners have renovated the 10 motel units to create accessible accommodation for people of all abilities. Each has its own ensuite and kitchenette and access to a communal swimming pool, spa and covered barbecue area. 'There is an income now and I think there is certainly room to up the market for that motel business,' Mr Troost said. 'There has been some investment there but there is always some room for improvement to increase that. 'There is also a house on the property that someone could potentially use for accommodation. It's currently being used by the accommodation manager.' He said the additional land, which includes three substantial sheds, could pave the way for more motel units, subject to council approval. The site has two road frontages, with access also available off Hackwill Place. 'We have had a range of inquiries, some people are looking at putting a restaurant there or storage, as well as investors,' he said. 'It's currently a rural living zone, but there is another property to the south with the same zoning and, interestingly, that's a petrol station so there is a bit of a precedent for some future development.' The site is a short drive from the Drysdale town centre and walking distance to Lake Lorne and the Bellarine Rail Trail. It's also on the doorstep of the Curlewis Golf Club and Leura Park Estate winery. Mr Troost said the recent rezoning of land on opposite the motel for housing would only further fuel growth in the area.
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Mayor Mahé Drysdale's call for council review backed by LGNZ
It comes after Drysdale called for 'tough' amalgamation conversations between Bay of Plenty councils. He said the remit passing showed everyone was aware that change was happening in local government. '[We] want to be proactive around designing the system that will work for our people and work for us as local government.' The remit called for a review of current functions and governance arrangements of councils. Councils weren't as efficient and effective as they could be, he said. The sector needed to look at what services should be delivered nationally, regionally, and locally, then design a system that would best deliver those services, Drysdale said. Having a national IT system for all councils and regional roading networks were some ideas the sector could discuss, he said. Mahé Drysdale said councils could have a national IT system for service like rates. Photo / 123rf When talking about efficiency, people 'jump to amalgamation', Drysdale said, but it was only one of the solutions. 'It may not be the solution that comes out of it. We've got to keep a really open mind.' He said he was not trying to 'ram through amalgamation'. 'The intent of this is getting all the local authorities with LGNZ and central government working together to design a system that works for the country.' New Zealand has 78 councils: 11 regional, 11 city, 50 district, and six unitary authorities (regional and city/district combined). Changes to how councils managed water through Local Water Done Well and Resource Management Act (RMA) reform meant the functions of councils was changing, so councils needed to change their form, Drysdale said. LGNZ was in the 'perfect position' to co-ordinate the remit, but buy-in was needed from central Government and the other councils, he said. Plenty of reviews had been done, but action was needed, Drysdale said. 'Let's make sure we've done this thoroughly and we know what the best system is, but then we've actually got to implement it.' Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo / Alex Burton Local Government Minister Simon Watts said opportunities for efficiency included working alongside the sector. The new legislation that would replace the RMA included provisions about the roles, responsibilities, and processes of local government, he said. This included proposals that differed from the status quo, Watts said. 'I am keen to look at how the reorganisation process for local government can be made simpler and expect to receive advice on this.' Local Government New Zealand chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene. Photo / Mark Tantrum LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said local government needed to be proactive and lead the changes required. 'The current sector arrangements are a legacy, and do not always reflect how communities have expanded and how modern services are delivered. 'With key Government legislation changes now under way, it'll require an agile and well-planned response by the sector,' she said in a statement. 'It's also important we retain local decision-making in the work we do and the decisions we make, particularly when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure and services for the community.' The LGNZ national council would consider next steps on the remit in the coming months. After the October election, the organisation would engage with councils in a member-driven process, an LGNZ spokesperson said. Outgoing Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said councils needed to be prepared to question their structure and functions. 'The structure of local government hasn't meaningfully changed since 1989. In that time, our communities, demographics, and challenges have changed dramatically,' he said in a statement. 'We need to be brave enough to question how we deliver services and what functions sit best at which level - national, regional, or local.' The remit had the support of metro councils before it was presented to LGNZ. The metro councils would provide support and resources to work on the programme established, the remit said. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
News.com.au
20-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Mid-century Jack Clarke design in Drysdale lives to see another day
Offering sweeping views of Corio Bay, this mid-century home in Bellarine's Drysdale township leaves a lasting impression. Initially planning to buy the home, demolish it, and subdivide the land, the vendor, James Chivers, immediately changed his mind after seeing 18-22 Regency Drive first-hand. 'From the moment we saw the house, it was clear this home was something truly special — both architecturally and in terms of its position and outlook,' he says. Quarterly price growth for Geelong suburbs revealed 'The light, the views, the design — it all stopped us in our tracks. We quickly realised our plans needed to change. 'The entire estate was reworked to preserve and celebrate this home, making it the statement piece of the street.' The home was originally designed by former Essendon footballer, Jack Clarke, who, along with David Hopkins and Les Clarke (all three RMIT Architecture graduates), created the renowned architecture firm, ClarkeHopkinsClarke. After this, the house underwent a renovation with a second owner, a local architect from Jan Juc, who extended the home to create what is now the large main bedroom and also added the light-filled dining area. 'This all keeps with the original mid-century design,' explains Chivers. Most recently, Chivers says that 'new travertine flooring has been added to enhance the natural elements in the original design.' Comprising clinker brick construction, the architectural appeal of the home is woven into the practical floor plan with its soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, generous room proportions, and raised ceilings, which all allow stunning natural light and water views. 'We've always loved sitting in the dining room — the light just pours in, and you can see right out over Swan Bay to the You Yangs. It's one of those spots where you just naturally slow down and take it all in,' says Chivers. 'In winter, the in-floor heating and the wood fire made the whole house feel so cosy. We'd often spend nights curled up by the fire with a glass of wine — it just has that warm, homely feel.' Another standout feature of the home, Chivers says, is the main bedroom. 'This was a real sanctuary for us — it's huge, and those big windows mean you wake up to that beautiful light and view every morning,' he says. Decking runs the full length of the northern side of the house, with direct access from two bedrooms, as well as the main living area. Additionally, the established Japanese gardens at the 1516sq m property have proven to be a peaceful sanctuary. 'One of our favourite places has to be the back garden,' Chivers says. 'It's private, peaceful, and feels like a little escape. We'd often sit out there by the fire pit in the evenings — it's a great spot to unwind.' Wilsons, Geelong agent James Wilson has scheduled the auction of 18-22 Regency Drive, Drysdale, for August 23 at noon. Price hopes are $1.15m to $1.25m.
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Eastern Bay Mayors Hit Out Against Amalgamation Talks
A joint statement by three Eastern Bay of Plenty mayors on Tuesday has them united against any attempt at amalgamating Bay of Plenty's councils. 'As mayors of the Eastern Bay, we know our communities value the accountability, and the control they get from our three councils. Amalgamation would see our communities swallowed into Tauranga and whose interests does that serve? Not the interests of the Eastern Bay of Plenty,' the statement said. The comments come on the back of Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale's push to start conversations about changing the way Bay of Plenty councils are arranged. At a recent Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum, Mr Drysdale said communities were crying out for things to be delivered more efficiently and effectively. He said there were seven councils represented around the forum table, which meant seven times the overhead. 'We can wait five years and have the Government do it for us or we can be proactive and say, let's look at it.' Mr Drysdale will also be speaking to a remit put to this week's Local Government New Zealand conference by Tauranga City Council for a review of local government arrangements to achieve better balance. The remit was supported by LGNZ's Metro Sector councils. Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca said he could find no evidence that amalgamation of councils would result in lower rates. He cited two academic studies published in the past three years that pointed against any efficiencies being achieved by amalgamation. A 2022 report called Does Size Matter, from independent Crown organisation the Infrastructure Commission, found little evidence of cost efficiencies from larger local governments. The report looked at whether council size and structure affected road maintenance, building consents and council overhead costs. 'Our analysis suggests that population size neither decreases nor increases the cost to provide these three services,' the report stated. Dr Luca also referenced a 2024 economic paper by University of Otago professor Tom Stannard and TDB Advisory's Philip Barry about scale efficiency gains in electricity distribution. The paper looked at both public and private organisations and found that potential gains from scale alone, without considering population density, were very limited. 'The only way that reducing the number of slices in a pie can result in any benefit is if the pie also shrinks,' Dr Luca said. 'I'm actually quite annoyed that (Mr) Drysdale makes the argument that everybody trots out without evidence. The real evidence is there, and he completely ignores it.' He felt Whakatāne district would be the loser in any amalgamation arrangement with the wider Bay of Plenty. 'We represent 16 percent of the population of the Bay of Plenty, and you only have to look at how we fared in receiving funding through the Regional Transport Committee. We only got 1 percent of the budget request allocated to us. He felt there were efficiencies that could be made through the councils working more closely together. 'For example, we're all using different enterprise software. That is something that could easily be fixed without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.' Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore said he felt Mr Drysdale should be talking to his community about how they felt before he started talking about amalgamating councils. 'The first thing you learn in local government is you need to talk to your community first, before we make plans.' Mr Moore was doubtful that amalgamation would create efficiencies, pointing out a number of failures of central government in providing police, education and health services to the region. 'That day (of the mayoral forum) we had a presentation showing we are 1700 doctors short in New Zealand.' 'We've got a net increase in police of less than 20.' He also referenced the recent reduction in gynecological and obstetrics services that sees pregnant women having to be rushed to Tauranga for emergencies, and Ōpōtiki College having issues with black mould in its classrooms last year. He said there had been a great deal of work done recently on possible funding solutions for councils. 'For example, the GST content of rates that gets forwarded to central. A tax on a tax, some say. 'There is no resistance to working smarter and sharing services wherever possible, but scale does not always mean saving for the community - something to think about on your next trip to the supermarket or when paying your latest power or insurance bills. 'The same out of control costs have hit councils too, which does nothing to help keeping costs down." Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui said her community was against amalgamation. 'Mayor Drysdale can speak for Tauranga, but we know our communities are firmly rooted in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and that's where our people want their representation to be. "Our three councils are busy implementing our joint spatial plan and joint economic development plan. That's our priority, not theoretical amalgamation discussions", Mrs Tunui said.
NZ Herald
15-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Bay of Plenty councils: Eastern Bay mayors hit out against amalgamation talks
At a recent Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum, Drysdale said communities were crying out for things to be delivered more efficiently and effectively. He said there were seven councils represented around the forum table, which meant seven times the overhead. 'We can wait five years and have the Government do it for us or we can be proactive and say, let's look at it.' Drysdale will also be speaking to a remit put to this week's Local Government New Zealand conference by Tauranga City Council for a review of local government arrangements to achieve better balance. The remit was supported by LGNZ's Metro Sector councils. Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca said he could find no evidence that amalgamation of councils would result in lower rates. He cited two academic studies published in the past three years that pointed against any efficiencies being achieved by amalgamation. A 2022 report called Does Size Matter, from independent Crown organisation the Infrastructure Commission, found little evidence of cost efficiencies from larger local governments. The report looked at whether council size and structure affected road maintenance, building consents and council overhead costs. Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale at a Tauranga City Council meeting. Photo / David Hall 'Our analysis suggests that population size neither decreases nor increases the cost to provide these three services,' the report stated. Luca also referenced a 2024 economic paper by University of Otago professor Tom Stannard and TDB Advisory's Philip Barry about scale efficiency gains in electricity distribution. The paper looked at public and private organisations and found that potential gains from scale alone, without considering population density, were very limited. 'The only way that reducing the number of slices in a pie can result in any benefit is if the pie also shrinks,' Luca said. 'I'm actually quite annoyed that Drysdale makes the argument that everybody trots out without evidence. The real evidence is there, and he completely ignores it.' Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore, Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui and Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca are in agreement that amalgamation with other Bay of Plenty councils is not in the best interests of the Eastern Bay. Photo / Supplied He felt Whakatāne district would be the loser in any amalgamation arrangement with the wider Bay of Plenty. 'We represent 16% of the population of the Bay of Plenty, and you only have to look at how we fared in receiving funding through the Regional Transport Committee. We only got 1% of the budget request allocated to us.' He felt there were efficiencies that could be made through the councils working more closely together. 'For example, we're all using different enterprise software. That is something that could easily be fixed without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.' Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore said he felt Drysdale should be talking to his community about how they felt before he started talking about amalgamating councils. Whakatāne would be the loser in a Bay of Plenty council amalgamation, Mayor Victor Luca says. Photo / Andrew Warner 'The first thing you learn in local government is you need to talk to your community first, before we make plans.' Moore was doubtful that amalgamation would create efficiencies, pointing out a number of failures of central government in providing police, education and health services to the region. 'That day [of the mayoral forum] we had a presentation showing we are 1700 doctors short in New Zealand. 'We've got a net increase in police of less than 20.' He also referenced the recent reduction in gynaecological and obstetrics services that sees pregnant women having to be rushed to Tauranga for emergencies, and Ōpōtiki College having issues with black mould in classrooms last year. He said there had been a great deal of work done recently on possible funding solutions for councils. 'For example, the GST content of rates that gets forwarded to central. A tax on a tax, some say. 'There is no resistance to working smarter and sharing services wherever possible, but scale does not always mean saving for the community - something to think about on your next trip to the supermarket or when paying your latest power or insurance bills. 'The same out of control costs have hit councils too, which does nothing to help keeping costs down.' Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui. Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui said her community was against amalgamation. 'Mayor Drysdale can speak for Tauranga, but we know our communities are firmly rooted in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and that's where our people want their representation to be. 'Our three councils are busy implementing our joint spatial plan and joint economic development plan. That's our priority, not theoretical amalgamation discussions,' Tunui said. What other Bay mayors say Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer previously told Local Democracy Reporting he did not believe his community supported amalgamating with Tauranga. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said councils should not be afraid of change but 'negative experiences' from health and polytechnic mergers made communities wary. Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said work needed to be done to understand where and how services were best delivered - nationally, regionally and locally - to inform the long-running debate. - Additional reporting by Alisha Evans - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
