Record setting year in the making

by Carolyn Grant

Building permit values in Kimberley for 2005 are headed for a record high, as end-of-June values have already topped the best year on record.

"It's an exceptionally good year so far," said Coun. Jack Ratcliffe, presenting the Building Department Report at Council's regular meeting Monday.

Building permits issued to the end of June exceed $23 million in value. Ratcliffe says that goes up another $4 million by June 7.

Even better news is that of the $23 million, only $300,000 is for non-taxable properties. in comparison, by this time in 2004, permits were valued at $6.9 million and $1.7 million of that was non-taxable.

Construction in Kimberley has been on a fairly steady climb for the past several years – $10.4 million in 2000, $10.5 million in 2001, dropping to $6.6 million in 2002, then $15 million in 2003. In 2004 building permits were issues for projects worth $13 million.

"These are fantastic numbers," said Mayor Ron McRae. "We should easily break $30 million this year."

So what's driving the numbers? It's not just t he interest of outside developers, McRae said, but locals as well.

"You're seeing a lot of new developments, but you are also seeing people improving their properties and upgrading their homes. Look at some of the new homes going in up in the residential areas around town," he said. "It's representative of an increasing trust and faith Kimberley's citizens that it's onward and upward. We've survived the mine closing and we're moving forward.

"More and more people are putting it behind them. It's not just residential development. There is an increasing interest in small business and some light industry is looking at Kimberley as well."

View PDF Approx 280KB

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view news and newsletter PDF files.