Hut owner irate over land freehold price

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 6

Hut owner irate over land freehold price

A Rakaia hut owner is irate over the price being asked by Landcorp to freehold the South Rakaia hut site. Mr John Keig, of Ashburton, said the land had been offered to the hut owners in May at a price ; of $BO,OOO plus GST. ! He said the president of the hut-holders associa- : tion, Mr Doug Hood, had i said the Commissioner of i Crown Lands had offered the site, and payment had to be made by August 1, 1987, with no room for

negotiation on the price. “It is scandalous, we have already been charged $74,000 for questionable flood protection on this site. I think the commissioner needs to justify such a valuation,” said Mr Keig. The former Commissioner of Crown Lands and now regional manager of Landcorp, Mr Laurie Kenworthy, would not confirm the price or details of the sale or comment on the valuation.

“It is a business matter between the hut-holders and Landcorp,” said Mr Kenworthy. Mr Keig said the 72 hut owners were being asked to pay $llOO each at least for a piece of riverbed threatened by floods. "Many of them do not like it at all. One or two have sold and others have said they will not pay.” He said the payments had to be made by July 20. Mr Hood could not be contacted for comment.