The Council owns a lot of property around Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. We regularly look at our portfolio to make sure we still need it and that it's fit for purpose.

The Council purchases properties to deliver a service, activity or project.

When we no longer need a property for the purpose we originally acquired it, it's time for us to think about what we want to do with it. The criteria we use to help us decide if we still need it is:

  • Is the full property still required for the purpose for which it was originally acquired?
  • Does the property have special cultural, heritage or environmental values that can only be protected through public ownership?
  • Is there an immediate identified alternative public use / work / activity in a policy, plan or strategy?
  • Are there any strategic, non-service delivery needs that the property meets and that can only be met through public ownership?
  • Are there any identified unmet needs, which the Council might normally address, that the property could be used to solve? And is there a reasonable pathway to funding the unmet need?

If any property doesn't meet this criteria, we have the option to keep it, put it to a different use or public work, or dispose of it.

You can see every property current up for sale on this map(external link).

Use the address search to find an address or zoom to a blue property on the map. Click on the property for more information and to see the Property Status Report. If you need any further information about a particular property, please contact the Property Consultant listed.
 
You can also see a full list of properties here [PDF, 34 KB]

We decide whether a property is surplus and ready for disposal in the following ways:

1. Through our Annual or Long Term Plan process
Each year, we list properties that don't meet the above criteria in our Annual or Long Term Plan, which set out what we intend to do for the coming period. This consultation process lets us engage with the community and people likely to have an interest in the disposal of the property, and this feedback informs the Council’s decision-making.

See the list of properties currently going through this process here.(external link)

When the Plan is adopted, it will incorporate a final decision to declare all or some of those properties as surplus for disposal. Work to dispose of these properties will get underway in the following year.

Because our properties are held in a variety of ways, this consultation process also helps satisfy a number of statutory requirements dependent on the nature of each property, e.g.:

  • Local Government Act 2002 Section 78 – Community views in relation to decisions.
  • Local Government Act 2002 Section 138 – Restriction on disposal of parks (by sale or otherwise).
  • Reserves Act 1977 Section 24 – Change of classification or purpose or revocation of reserves. 
    In this regard, please note that the Council is required to submit to the Minister of Conservation, for final approval, any proposal to revoke the reserve status following consideration of objections. In the event of unsatisfied objections, a hearings panel process may be employed to consider the issue.
  • Local Government Act 2002 Section 97 – Certain decisions to be taken only if provided for in long-term plan.
    The Council, when resolving to adopt the Annual or Long Term Plan, will consider the feedback through the consultation process and resolve the future use of such properties, which can result in a declaration that the property is surplus for disposal.

2. Under a staff decision and delegation
Staff have the delegated authority to sell property where, by necessity, additional land has been acquired in relation to a Council project and that additional land is not required and there is no immediate identified alternative public use or work. Keeping the property for an alternative public use or work must:

  • Meet a clearly identified need.
  • Be supported by a sound and robust business case.
  • Support Council strategies.
  • Be provided for with established funding in the Council’s Annual and Long Term plans through a separate Council consideration and decision.

Or, as otherwise provided for in the Council's Annual or Long Term Plan.

3. Through a separate and specific consideration and decision of the Council
This would require a full options report in accordance with the Local Government Act requirements and could be led by staff or initiated through an unsolicited proposal. See the Council’s guidelines for unsolicited proposals here.(external link)

There may be statutory considerations that dictate how we dispose of the property e.g. an offer back obligation to the prior owner, right of first refusal to Ngāi Tahu under the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, or reversion to the Crown.

Under these circumstances, we'll need to unilaterally satisfy these obligations before (or if) the property is publicly sold. In some instances, the only purchaser may be the adjoining owner, which would mean we would deal with them unilaterally.

We'll dispose of all properties we find to be surplus for disposal by publicly tendering them, unless there's a clear reason for doing otherwise, and in an open, transparent, well-advertised and public manner at market value. This may include methods other than tender, e.g. auction, deadline sale, and general listing.

If a property isn't listed on this website, it's unlikely to be for sale. It would need to either be incorporated in a future Annual or Long Term Plan process, or considered separately and specifically, as explained above.

Because we get so many enquiries, it's not practical for us to keep lists of people interested in purchasing Council property.

The value of all property sales needs to be supported by an independent registered valuation(s) and/or the market.

There are circumstances where the Council will deal unilaterally, as explained above.