Southland Housing Action Forum (SHAF) today announced that Habitat for Humanity Invercargill is the new owner of the Kew Bowl site after their tender was accepted by the Invercargill City Council.  

SHAF submitted an expression of interest in January and were asked to then tender for the property. As SHAF is a community initiative and not a legally recognised entity, Habitat for Humanity submitted the tender instead. 

Habitat for Humanity Invercargill General Manager Paul Searancke said the intention was for Kew Bowl to be used for an affordable, mixed-use housing development to provide a range of housing from seniors to young families to help combat widespread housing shortages in the city. 

He said the site would be made up of public housing, first homebuyer homes, secure tenure rentals and ‘for market’ sale homes from a range of developers.  

“We are very excited for the potential this site has to make a difference in such a tight housing climate. A community consultation process will begin at the end of June and run for two months to ensure the needs of the wider community are met."

Mr Searancke said they hoped to be turning dirt on stage one of the development in summer. 

“We’re also looking forward to engaging with central government to explore the opportunities available. A partnership including the city council, community housing providers, social housing providers and developers would ensure the best interests of the Invercargill community were being looked after."

SHAF Chair Shaun Drylie, who also serves as a Southland Chamber of Commerce Board Director and as the CEO of SBS Bank, said he was delighted the forum had been able to facilitate a major achievement within its first 12 months. 

“It just shows that with community collaboration led by a strong, social-minded organisation like Habitat for Humanity, we can achieve great things."

Mr Drylie also acknowledged the vision of the city council, and for "walking the talk" after passing a resolution in January to be more of an enabler of housing and recognising the extent of the issues facing the city.  

ICC Chief Executive Clare Hadley said she was delighted over the news and that there had been a clear desire from elected members to support and enable social/affordable housing providers.