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It looks as if Napier is set to bound further ahead. Read on
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It looks as if Napier is set to bound further ahead. Read on
Lagoon Farm development could yield 800 sections
11.05.2004 -
The plug is coming out of Napier's housing bottleneck with plans to develop Lagoon Farm nearing completion.
The city council-owned farm is likely to realise 600 to 800 residential sections in a staged development. Plans are still under wraps, however, and won't be released until the council puts the project in for resource consent. The council has also to work through district plan issues before finalising its plans.
Sited between the Park Island sports fields and the northern extension of the expressway, Lagoon Farm is roughly centred between Taradale and Westshore and Napier Hill.
The council is extending Prebensen Drive (previously Tamatea Drive) to form a western corridor arterial providing the area with easy access to the city.
Given the buoyant property market, developers, builders and potential home-buyers can be expected to show keen interest in the development.
The sale will boost the coffers of the council, cash-strapped as a result of major capital projects over the past decade. They include upgrades of the aquarium, the War Memorial Centre, the Municipal Theatre and the Marine Parade pool.
With a relatively stagnant number of rateable properties, the council is also faced with footing the $13m cost of an advanced primary sewerage treatment plant at Awatoto as well as $3m in annual operating charges.
Last year, a developer suggested the council could realise $60m if it acted as a creative developer, offering a variety of housing options, developing a sophisticated industrial park and releasing sections over perhaps a 20-year period.
It seems unlikely the council would get involved in a development role on the 102ha in the south-east corner of the farm targeted for sale.
The council inherited the 475ha farm from the Hawke's Bay Harbour Board farm as part of local government restructuring. Earnings were seen as recompense for maintaining wharf structures in the inner harbour.
Before the 1931 Napier Earthquake drained off much of the Ahuriri Estuary, the land was largely under water.
As a result, the soil is not particularly fertile and the farm is not a big earner.
Much of the land is also low-lying, and part of it is included in an airport noise boundary. Less than a quarter of the farm is likely to be targeted for housing. The council intends setting aside land adjoining the Park Island sportsground to extend the reserve.
A kiwifruit orchard is also not expected to be included in plans for residential development.
Commercial and/or industrial land might be included in the redevelopment proposal being considered in-committee.
Last October, National Property Trust revealed plans for a big-box shopping centre the company wants to develop on 16-20ha of the farm adjoining the expressway.
11.05.2004 -
The plug is coming out of Napier's housing bottleneck with plans to develop Lagoon Farm nearing completion.
The city council-owned farm is likely to realise 600 to 800 residential sections in a staged development. Plans are still under wraps, however, and won't be released until the council puts the project in for resource consent. The council has also to work through district plan issues before finalising its plans.
Sited between the Park Island sports fields and the northern extension of the expressway, Lagoon Farm is roughly centred between Taradale and Westshore and Napier Hill.
The council is extending Prebensen Drive (previously Tamatea Drive) to form a western corridor arterial providing the area with easy access to the city.
Given the buoyant property market, developers, builders and potential home-buyers can be expected to show keen interest in the development.
The sale will boost the coffers of the council, cash-strapped as a result of major capital projects over the past decade. They include upgrades of the aquarium, the War Memorial Centre, the Municipal Theatre and the Marine Parade pool.
With a relatively stagnant number of rateable properties, the council is also faced with footing the $13m cost of an advanced primary sewerage treatment plant at Awatoto as well as $3m in annual operating charges.
Last year, a developer suggested the council could realise $60m if it acted as a creative developer, offering a variety of housing options, developing a sophisticated industrial park and releasing sections over perhaps a 20-year period.
It seems unlikely the council would get involved in a development role on the 102ha in the south-east corner of the farm targeted for sale.
The council inherited the 475ha farm from the Hawke's Bay Harbour Board farm as part of local government restructuring. Earnings were seen as recompense for maintaining wharf structures in the inner harbour.
Before the 1931 Napier Earthquake drained off much of the Ahuriri Estuary, the land was largely under water.
As a result, the soil is not particularly fertile and the farm is not a big earner.
Much of the land is also low-lying, and part of it is included in an airport noise boundary. Less than a quarter of the farm is likely to be targeted for housing. The council intends setting aside land adjoining the Park Island sportsground to extend the reserve.
A kiwifruit orchard is also not expected to be included in plans for residential development.
Commercial and/or industrial land might be included in the redevelopment proposal being considered in-committee.
Last October, National Property Trust revealed plans for a big-box shopping centre the company wants to develop on 16-20ha of the farm adjoining the expressway.