Newcomers buoy Waimate house sales

Waimate is facing a surge in newcomers as more people snap up homes in the district.

LJ Hooker manager Fiona Hislop said a mixture of investors, retirees and first-home buyers were moving to the district to either rent or buy.

In the last month, the real estate company's Waimate section on its website had 600 views – almost double the 300-400 views it had during winter.

Mrs Hislop said it could be due to spring, or from developments the district is set to benefit from in the next decade. "A lot of them do say, `we hear there's a lot of things happening here'."

A $993 million Meridian hydro project, a $100m dairy factory, two irrigation schemes and, across the Waitaki River, a $300m cement plant near Oamaru are all on the cards for the district.

While Meridian's North Bank 34-kilometre tunnel scheme is only halfway through the consent application process, and applications to build the Oceania Milk dairy factory have only just been made, confidence is high the projects will go ahead.

Construction of the tunnel could mean up to 400 jobs if the project starts in 2012. "They could stay short-term, but they tend to stay. It's a great place for kids. It's nice and quiet and it's safe here. It's not overly busy but it's getting busier now."

Mrs Hislop said some buyers were from overseas, mainly England, Australia and South Africa, but people from Auckland and the West Coast were also finding Waimate properties were "reasonably priced".

Harcourts manager Vee McLean said people were moving to Waimate for the quieter, country lifestyle. Of the last five properties sold by Harcourts, two buyers were from Britain, one from Australia, one from Christchurch and one from Waimate.

Hastings McLeod manager Ivan Kelynack said while he hadn't noticed an increase yet, agents were preparing for an influx if the hydro project and dairy factory went ahead. "I believe there will be an influx and I'm sure we can cope with it." He said most people buying in the district were retirees, but about two years ago there had been an influx of Aucklanders.

"Waimate's prices are attractive to outside people," he said.

Mrs Hislop agreed the Waimate market could handle an influx. "Things have to change, people have to move. We will always have properties for sale."