Real Estate: West Melton, Selwyn District, Canterbury, New Zealand.

The 7.1 earthquake that hit the Canterbury region of New Zealand back on September 4th 2010 was centred within the Selwyn District of Canterbury. A new faultline has been named ‘The Greendale Fault.’

Some 4000 aftershocks since, how has the Selwyn area fared?

Despite being close to the epicentre of the earthquake (near farmland in Charing Cross) the Selwyn area suffered less structural damage than one might have thought possible. In fact, the Selwyn area appears to have suffered less damage overall than some other areas because there was little liquefaction and because the district tends to have newer homes. The Christchurch Press (Wednesday, February 9th 2011) reports ‘that fewer than 100 homes will have to be rebuilt in the district.’ Approximately 11,472 claims have been lodged with the Earthquake Commission (EQC) since September from Selwyn’s residents.

For anyone wanting to see the visual statistics (depth/magnitude)for the Canterbury region since the major earthquake on September 4th visit www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz

Whilst Rolleston is the most populated area in the Selwyn District, the small community in West Melton is growing thanks to the creation on new upmarket subdivisions such as \’Gainsborough.\’ Much of the real estate in this area has traditionally been large lifestyle properties and farmland. The sections in Gainsborough are smaller than both of these. Over a hundred families have already settled within the Gainsborough subdivision; attracted by the close proximity to the Christchurch International Airport as well as the ski-fields, mountain ranges and the wild west coast. Of course, the short driving distance to Christchurch are also big pluses. The Hub at Hornby is approximately 15 minutes from West Melton village.

The \’Gainsborough\’ subdivision has been well designed with protective covenants in place to ensure that high standards of building are maintained. Underground (reticulated) gas is a real plus for the subdivison. Most of the south island cooks by electric! There is a primary school, nursery and rugby club locally. West Melton is a rural area and that is its main attraction. Section sizes are generally much larger than those normally found within the Christchurch city suburbs. As a result, Selwyn suburbs like Rolleston and West Melton appeal mainly to families wanting more space and serenity than can be found in the city.

A LIM report for a property is advised before any purchase is made. Zones are currently being created to show areas at risk of liquefaction. From now on, any property inside and within 300 metres of the zone will have the risk mentioned in future LIM (Land Information Memorandum) reports. LIM reports are available from Selwyn District Council. They are usually obtained within a fortnight of application.

It is also important that specialist reports (structural/geotech etc.) are obtained before buying any real estate in the earthquake affected areas of Canterbury.

The population of the Selwyn District area continues to grow. The 7.1 earthquake may have shaken the area but it has not totally diminished its appeal.

For anyone interested in investing, living, moving to this area please contact me for more information.

Author Bio: Belinda Langrish Originally from the UK. Now a licensed real estate salesperson working for raywhite Halswell. AJ McPherson & Associates Ltd. Licensed REAA 2008. View my profile and raywhite listings in the Selwyn/West Melton area at: http://www.rwhalswell.co.nz email: belinda.langrish@raywhite.com

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: real estate, New Zealand, Canterbury, West Melton, Selwyn, Rolleston,