Lot 191 and Lot 192 Montefiores Estate were initially acquired by the former Wellington Council through a land swap deal with the developer of the estate. Council’s plan was initially to extend Nicholii Street and connect it to Queen Street. However council no longer has the intention to do so.

Council administrator Michael Kneipp granted approval for standard services to be connected to the residential lots and sold.

“It was recommended that Lot 191 and Lot 192 be offered for sale at $75000 and $70000 respectively, with council to offer a $15,000 rebate to eligible first home buyers, payable upon the concrete slab being laid within 12 months of contract settlement,” Mr Kneipp said.

“The intention of offering these two residential lots on the market is to provide additional opportunities for local residents seeking to enter the housing market, and to stimulate building activity in Wellington.”

Council is set to make a $65,000 profit from the sales, which will be allocated to the Property Development Fund.

It is the first time the new home owners grant has been offered in Wellington, however offered the grant on parcels of land in Dubbo’s Keswick Estate.

When Stage Four, Release 3A of the estate went on sale in October, 10 of the 36 lots were set aside for first home buyers, with a $15,000 rebate.

At the time, council’s manager commercial facilities Simon Tratt said the grant was a way of encouraging new buyers.

“A lot of the developers aren’t focusing on that first home buyer market. They’re looking at second and third and fourth home buyers,” Mr Tratt said.

“But this is where council feels it has a social responsibility to be able to provide for those who can’t afford and also those who are working hard and simply only have the option of buying an old second hand house or they’re out of the hosing market.”