Sites taking shape
THE ever-changing face of the Hibiscus Coast is under the knife again as developers make the most of the dry spell.
Heavy machinery is cutting away at several hillsides preparing for the planned sale of sections in the Millwater subdivision at Arran Point area next year.
Extensive work is being done to ensure the northeast outlook of properties is fully utilised, Millwater marketing manager Warren Frogley says.
‘‘It will take this year to get the ground work done, settled and shaped. Next year will be roading and services. It’s likely to be 2016 before any sections are on the market.’’
Around 1100 sections elsewhere in the greater Millwater development have already been sold with a further 350 to go online this year.
‘‘It’s going very well, we can’t keep up with the demand for land and houses,’’ sales and marketing manager Nick Hornby says.
Between 700 and 800 people are living in the suburb, with the Wainui Rd/ State Highway 1 interchange due to be completed in late April.
The Millwater Central shopping centre is opening in February. Other work under way includes:
The Peninsula Golf Club in Red Beach where earthworks have started on stage one of the PLDL development that will turn the site into residential housing.
Aged-care company Metlifecare has put in an acquisition to buy five hectares of the development with a plan to build a $ 150 million retirement village.
The sale is subject to due diligence, resource consents and subdivision consent, expected to be confirmed by December. Metlifecare hopes to start construction in 2017 if conditions are met.
The village would feature a range of one, two and three-bedroom independent living options and care beds.
Planned community facilities include a swimming pool, gym, cafe and bowling green. Metlifecare owns Hibiscus Coast Village, also in Red Beach.
Top Harbour’s Fairway Bay in Gulf Harbour is moving along with development works for 110 lots under way. Sixty-five titles have been released so far and 40 of those are sold. A further 39 lots have been sold to a builder.
‘‘We have got comprehensive plan approval for a further 139 lots. We will be completing engineering approvals over the next three months and ready to start that work in the next construction season,’’ Fair- way Bay project consultant Michael Webb-Speight says.
The marina has been completed and is open. A bar is opening soon with a cafe already operational.
Cabra Development’s Wade River Rd project has finished stage one with 42 titles due to be released early next month and 80 per cent already sold.
Sites range from 600 to 7000 square metres. Larger lots include a large portion of bush. Stage two is under construction with 86 titles due to be released at the end of the year.
‘‘People like the views and the north aspect, the vegetation and size of sites,’’ Cabra project and sales manager Duncan Unsworth says.
Cabra’s Orewa project on Grand Drive has 118 sites with earthworks started late last year. The first stage will be released mid to late this year.
Rodney MP Mark Mitchell says growth in the area needs to be carefully balanced.
‘‘ It creates more opportunity and allows our retail sector to grow. But with that we also have to get our investment and the level of services and infrastructure right,’’ Mitchell says.
‘‘We need to look at what we need to invest in and where it needs to happen. Hibiscus Coast is a great place to live and we can work at enhancing the quality of life here.’’
Cabra has finished stage one of a subdivision in Huapai where all 68 sites are sold. Most of stage two’s 55 sites have also sold and stage three’s 86 sites are due to be released later this year.
* Geese need homes P3. Show homes feature P9-11.