Taupo & Turangi Herald

Affordable homes are all-go

Project’s first stage involves 62 new houses near park

- Milly Fullick

Taupō’s affordable housing shortage is one step closer to easing as plans progress for a new developmen­t in the East Urban Lands area of Wharewaka.

In a Taupō District Council meeting on Tuesday, councillor­s voted unanimousl­y to proceed with an agreement to develop the first stage of a 6ha area of council-owned land next to the new Kokomea Park developmen­t.

The first stage will involve 62 new houses which will be built, marketed and sold by a consortium of Penny Homes Limited, Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust and Classic Builders.

According to the council’s meeting minutes, this was the preferred choice as “in this option, future developmen­t investment is being proposed in a financiall­y prudent manner, which does not put any pressure on [the] council’s rates, and limits pressure on [the] council’s debt”.

It also meant the council would get market value for the land, while retaining some control over what kinds of housing were built, as well as other facilities, such as parks and bus stops.

Under the proposed developmen­t, 38 affordable homes would be built on reduced section sizes.

According to Bayleys, in December 2023 the average house price in Taupō township was $971,000.

The affordable homes would be sold from $550,000 for a twobedroom property and $650,000 for a three-bedroom home, with section sizes ranging from 77sq m to 473sq m, with an average size of 254sq m.

The developmen­t would include types of homes which are not common in Taupō, including two-storey terraced properties and homes with single garages or off-road parking only. The council would later determine eligibilit­y criteria for buyers of these homes.

The remaining properties in the first stage would be general housing and sold on the open market.

Taupō Deputy Mayor Kevin Taylor stressed that this option would provide much-needed housing stock, but was less financiall­y risky than the council taking on the developmen­t role.

“We are simply facilitati­ng this, and irrespecti­ve of where the market has gone, the need for homes remains.

“Those who [were] looking for a home in the affordable range previously are still looking for homes and will continue to look for homes.

“In my view, we have an obligation to be good stewards of this land and provide opportunit­ies while we have the opportunit­ies available.”

The following stages would see more homes developed on the land, totalling over 200 properties.

Although the council had funded the earthworks for the first stage, which were already complete, councillor Anna Park said it was important to note the East Urban Lands developmen­t was not the reason behind upcoming rate increases.

“This project does not actually financiall­y put a huge lot of pressure on the rates increase.

“Future payouts of the developed land will then help alleviate debt, so I just want to ensure that this process and this amazing opportunit­y doesn’t get downplayed or get drowned out with the fact there is a rate increase, because if you look at what that rate increase is actually about, it is not really this.”

 ?? ?? A artist’s rendering shows the proposed initial developmen­t, including affordable homes, on the East Urban Lands area in Wharewaka, Taupō . Inset: The developmen­t site is close to the new Kokomea Park site in Taupō .
A artist’s rendering shows the proposed initial developmen­t, including affordable homes, on the East Urban Lands area in Wharewaka, Taupō . Inset: The developmen­t site is close to the new Kokomea Park site in Taupō .

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