Location inspires new retirement village’s name

The $130 million Arvida Group village under construction at Richmond West has a name – Waimea Plains. Arvida general manager marketing and sales Tristan Saunders said he received 250 entries in a competition to name the multistage development, which, once complete, is expected to have about 150 one-, two- or three-bedroom villas along with 60 to 80 care suites. Three entrants who suggested the name Waimea Plains each received a hamper of produce. John Jary, pictured, a resident of the neighbouring Arvida-owned Oakwoods village, said he suggested the name because ‘‘that’s where it is’’. Fellow winners Phillipa Mitchell-Brewerton and Jo McNabb were inspired by similar reasoning. Earthworks started this year for the village on an eighthectare site off Lower Queen St.