INVERCARGILL | Projects

[mapamundista]

[Davee]

Thanks for the photos.

Funny thing your username mapamundista..............I saw the original mapa mundi in Hereford Cathedral 4 weeks ago - amazing.

[Davee]

Invercargill may become a boom town again if they find oil and and gas in the great southern basin (or whatever it is called). It will be a battle between Dunedin and Invercargill to deal with the shipping I suppose

I really hope the whole south of the South Island florishes - it would (will) be brilliant.

[Davee]

The Southland Times | Thursday, 23 August 2007

Most of the 150 houses in a new Invercargill residential development have sold already, despite only three having been built.

The first three houses were officially opened by the three companies involved in the project yesterday.

Built and financed by Paradise Homes, the houses are sold to investors who for 10 years must rent them to property management firm Easy Start Rental Management Ltd.

Wealth Buy Property Ltd company director Martin Hutchin said 144 of the development's four-bedroom family homes had sold during the past 14 months.

"I didn't expect to sell them as quickly."

He would have built more houses had he been able to obtain more land, Mr Hutchin said.

"We see Invercargill as a good growth town."

Although he did not want to get into specifics, there were plans for further residential development in the region.

"I've got some other things up my sleeve that might come to light shortly," he said.

The majority of the homes are in Heidleberg and there are some in Mavora Court.

Land prices were the major reason for choosing to develop in Invercargill, Mr Hutchin said.

The majority of investors came from areas such as Auckland, where an equivalent home would cost $450,000 rather than the $250,000 to $300,000 in Invercargill.

Paradise Homes Southland general manager Darren Leith said his company was financing the project and organising builders and contractors for the houses.

Mr Leith was originally hesitant to get involved in the project.

"We didn't want to do it to start with."

He had been unsure whether such a project could work in Invercargill.

However, he was now happy with how the development was proceeding.

"By the end of next year I hope to have the majority of the 150 completed."

The business hired Southland firms and contractors to build the houses as a way to keep money in the south's economy.

"I think it's an ethical thing to do," Mr Leith said.

Easy Start Rental Management Ltd manager Naomi Glover-Bennett said there was already a waiting list of prospective tenants for the homes, which cost between $260 and $295 in rent a week.

[Davee]

The Southland Times | Friday, 24 August 2007

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt fears southern travellers will end up paying more for air fares to subsidise cut-throat competition on the main routes.

His comments follow Pacific Blue's announcement yesterday it will fly main routes between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from November 15.

Further South Island services should be detailed in November.

Brett Godfrey, chief executive of the airline's Australian parent, Virgin Blue, yesterday confirmed Queenstown and Rotorua were likely to be added.

Mr Shadbolt said he was concerned the announcement would be bad news for southern customers because Air New Zealand used fares from regional routes to maintain profits for shareholders while it cut prices to meet the competition on the main routes.

"It will get harder and harder to get the cheaper fare – that's my fear. They will look to maintain high price margins so their shares don't go down any more," he said. While Air New Zealand might not increase fares, it might reduce the number of specials, he said.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Clive Geddes was not surprised Pacific Blue planned to start flying on the most profitable routes before deciding whether to move into the smaller centres.

Queenstown was well serviced by airlines, both internationally by Air New Zealand and Qantas, and domestically by Air New Zealand, Qantas and Mt Cook Airlines, but Pacific Blue would be a welcome addition to the market, he said.

"There is always that element where competition can destroy the market but I think it's a wait-and-see game with Pacific Blue," Mr Geddes said.

Pacific Blue spokesman Adrian Hamilton-Manns said the airline was looking at Queenstown and Invercargill, as part of its longer-term plan in New Zealand. It was keeping a "couple of plans up our sleeves" about provincial routes, which it would announce later.

When considering other routes, Pacific Blue would look at areas it thought had been given a rough deal, including Invercargill, he said.

[metroman]

Is there any news on when exploration is due to begin in the Great Southern Basin. Is there a strong possibility that there could be major gas and oil deposits there? How seriously is this being taken? What are the benefits that this can offer Southland and Otago?

[spotila]

A reasonable attempt at an enormous panorama of the southern city

[flyin_higher]

Nice work. Might eventually go down and visit these southern cities sometime lol (haven't been to Dunedin either).

[Kane007]

Stuff 2007/10/15

South Port in Bluff has gone one-nil up on Port Otago in the battle to host seismic contractors set to explore the Great South Basin for oil and gas.

South Port chief executive Mark O'Connor said the port had secured WesternGeco PTE, seismic contractor to oil giant Exxon Mobil, to use the port as the service base for its operation.

However, economic spin-offs were hard to predict, with drilling, if it was to occur, still up to three years away, he said.

In July, the Government awarded permits to two international consortiums led by OMV and Exxon Mobil, and to New Zealand company Greymouth Petroleum, to explore up to 90,000 square kilometres of the Great South Basin for oil and gas.

O'Connor said WesternGeco had appointed a Taranaki-based company as primary shipping agent with South Port taking a sub-agency role.

The boat used by WesternGeco in the basin, the Western Trident, would carry about 50 people and begin its work in the basin about mid-November.

Crew changes would occur every four to five weeks with South Port likely to be used as a base to fly crew back and forth to the boat, he said.

"The objective of this exercise is to keep the ships operating as much as possible," he said. "It represents low levels of activity as far as port interaction (goes)."

South Port and Port Otago are in the race to woo the consortiums into their harbours.

Meanwhile, the successful seismic contractor appointed by OMV consortium, which has a bigger share of permits granted to date, was Wavefield Inseis, O'Connor said.

The company had also appointed a Taranaki company as shipping agent, while Southland-based operator Pacific Shipping would act as sub- agent, he said. Both South Port and Port Otago would both be used for services during the seismic contract period, he said. –Southland Times

[CULWULLA]

i love invercargill
lots of historic bldgs
note the huge water tower to left.
image hosted on flickr


@ 42m high it holds 66,000gallons. built in1888 after a years construction.
it had cupola removed in 1934 and added later
what great brick work.
image hosted on flickr


the cBD
image hosted on flickr


they sure had some great bricklayers
outstanding architecture
first pres church
image hosted on flickr

[Svartmetall]

Thanks a lot for the contribution Cul! Great to see some pictures of a not often photographed town.

[Davee]

It is a wonderful city that gets picked on for no real reason. If they strike oil and gas down there - hopefully Invercargill and Bluff will see good growth and reap some of the finacial benifits of being the city and port that would deal with such an industry.

[Milan Luka]

I really think Kiwis should see the country a bit more. I have a sneaking suspicion this town isn't anywhere near as bogany and inbred as its made out to be. Got some friends from down there and they are just about the most down to earth genuine people I've known. They've been in Chch long enough now to not get shocked by goth haircuts, the tall buildings, traffic jams, and how busy Pak n Save gets.

I'm getting tempted to go on a big road trip and take some corking shots for these threads.....

[KLK]

Originally Posted by DavidEugene

It is a wonderful city that gets picked on for no real reason. If they strike oil and gas down there - hopefully Invercargill and Bluff will see good growth and reap some of the finacial benifits of being the city and port that would deal with such an industry.

I have never been, so I will reserve judgement until I do. However, when its compared to Chernobyl (as ex-England rugby player Brian Moore did), and referred to as the "@sshole of the universe" (Mick Jagger) it doesn't bode well. And then there was that famous quote from an (albeit) Auckland journalist; "Bluff is the @sshole of NZ, and Invercargill is 50 miles up it"

Again - I am reserving judgement myself until I visit. And because I am from Palmerston North, I think I have a pretty good base from which to judge...

[nzman]

Screw that rugby player, it's not like England doesn't have its fair share of shitty towns.

[Svartmetall]

Of course we do. Every country does, but it doesn't mean that we can't call a spade a spade if the title is justified.

Take the criticism on the chin - I can start naming some bad English towns if you like. I mean I'd rather live in the rectum of someone who eats nothing but vindaloos than live in Hull for example!

[Milan Luka]

Originally Posted by KLK

And because I am from Palmerston North, I think I have a pretty good base from which to judge...

I dont wanna denigrate NZ's second tier cities but the comments you posted about IVC reminded me of Palmy recently going on an anti John Cleese crusade because of his negative comments about the place. I wish I remember what he said now... Some people cant take a joke. And what was Jagger doing in IVC anyway? Was he lost?

I'm all for taking it with a grain of salt. Kiwis spend too much worrying what others think. For instance the other week David Beckham was asked what his impressions of Wellington were 5 minutes after he got off the plane. wtf can he say? The airport has nice signage? The runway was smooth?

[KLK]

[QUOTE=Milan Luka;17184763]I dont wanna denigrate NZ's second tier cities but the comments you posted about IVC reminded me of Palmy recently going on an anti John Cleese crusade because of his negative comments about the place. I wish I remember what he said now... Some people cant take a joke. QUOTE]

I believe it was something along the lines of "if you want to commit suicide, then a visit to PN would be a good start" and "the people are boring, the weather is grim and their theatre is a funny shape". Bit harsh really - there's nothing wrong with the shape of our theatre

In actual fact. many took it as a joke and appreciated the exposure. And we named a new rubbish dump after him : "Mt Cleese".

I think PN is fine, so I'm sure I will feel the same about Invercargill

[metroman]

I believe New Zealand's regional cities are due to experience significant growth in the future, probably from 2015 onwards. If all goes well in the Southern Basin, that will be when Invercargill really takes off. If the 1800s are anything to go by and I believe history sometimes does point us to some interesting patterns, I believe New Zealand is due to experience its own mining boom. As far fetched as this may appear to many, there is actually a conservative estimate of $85.5 billion worth of mineral wealth in New Zealand with room for further research and development. New Zealand's minerals are a vast untapped resource. As the manufacturing sector is winding down which is happening in South Australia, mining is being seen as an alternative. I'm not drawing any parallels as there are differences, if we have resources which could significantly contribute to our Gdp which appears to be the case, then it would be foolish not to research this avenue.

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by metroman

I believe New Zealand's regional cities are due to experience significant growth in the future, probably from 2015 onwards. If all goes well in the Southern Basin, that will be when Invercargill really takes off. If the 1800s are anything to go by and I believe history sometimes does point us to some interesting patterns, I believe New Zealand is due to experience its own mining boom. As far fetched as this may appear to many, there is actually a conservative estimate of $85.5 billion worth of mineral wealth in New Zealand with room for further research and development. New Zealand's minerals are a vast untapped resource. As the manufacturing sector is winding down which is happening in South Australia, mining is being seen as an alternative. I'm not drawing any parallels as there are differences, if we have resources which could significantly contribute to our Gdp which appears to be the case, then it would be foolish not to research this avenue.

You could win an award for rhetoric and political spin! Sorry, but every single one of your posts seems to echo the same sentiment.

We all know there is great potential in mineral wealth, however, it is dangerous to rely upon fickle commodities. Even the OPEC nations are trying to diversify their economies - and NZ shouldn't sit on its laurals an hope for the oil to flow. Ingenuity is something that catagorises the NZ economy and this is something that should continue.