A subdivision with a view
After four years of work, Stratford’s multi-million dollar new subdivision has officially opened, with the mayor cutting the ribbon in front of a small gathering of potential buyers.
Twenty-eight sections in the shadow of Mt Taranaki have hit the market, with five more to come.
The Stratford District Council’s subdivision, off Pembroke Rd, was opened for tender on Saturday by mayor Neil Volzke, who was joined by chief executive Sven Hanne.
‘‘It’s a really really special occasion for everyone here,’’ Volzke said, on a beautiful sunny day that had Mt Taranaki on display. ‘‘It’s been a very big and expensive project.’’
The planning for the 33-section subdivision started in 2015 and has steadily progressed.
So far, the scheme has cost $3.7 million, and Volzke said they expected it to get to around $5m once the final sections are complete.
Volzke said he’d always been passionate about the project. ‘‘I’m going to keep doing it until number 33 is sold.’’
All streets in Stratford are named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare and the new subdivision is no exception.
Earlier in the year the council ran a ‘name the street’ contest and the winners were: Midsummer Ave, Bianca Cres, Othello Place and Macbeth Place.
The sections range from 605 square metres to 850sqm and mayor Volzke would not share details other than that they would cost between $50,000 and $500,000.
Twenty-eight sections are on offer now, with five others to come on sale at a later date.
In the long run, the council hopes to expand further. ‘‘We couldn’t have picked a better spot,’’ Hanne said.
The two were joined by Councillor Gloria Webby, a longstanding advocate of Stratford’s Shakespearean links.
When councillors decided earlier his year to formally adopt Shakespeare as the town’s identity, Webby was so pleased she sang a short song about the playwright. On Saturday she recited some lines from Macbeth after telling the gathering that she wasn’t allowed to sing this time.