New subdivision making Omokoroa a property-owning hot spot

Omokoroa is experiencing an increase in subdivisions as more new homes get consent. Photo/Western Bay of Plenty District Council

A range of major housing developments are under way in Omokoroa as the area prepares to cater for the increasing demand for homes in the area.

Figures from the Western Bay District Council show in the last 18 months 1148 lots had been approved for housing and 404 had reached title.

The seaside settlement's population is expected to be fully developed and go from 2890 to 12,000 people in the next 40 years.

A dairy farm that has been in the same family for 78 years is about to become Omokoroa's newest subdivision.

Harbour Ridge developer Brian Goldstone said previous development projects had given him the confidence to push forward with the project that would include hundreds of sections and a $1.5 million childcare centre.

Goldstone said the first titles would be available within weeks and expressions of interest had been fielded from throughout New Zealand. To date, 40 per cent of sections in the first part of stage one had sold.

Harbour Ridge developer Brian Goldstone. Photo/Supplied

Figures show there were 67 sections available in the first stage with an allocation for a further 250 sections as the subdivision progressed.

"It's pretty exciting and I think one of the unique factors about the subdivision is the views.

"There are also a lot of prime sites with sea views to the Mount, Tauranga Harbour and Bowentown, while others overlook the Kaimais."

Mark Hooper, of Classic Builders, said its Kaimai Views development would bring 242 homes to the market at Omokoroa in the next five years.

The subdivision had a mixture of houses, including some that would suit first-home buyers.

Development was positive for the township, he said.

''The more residential houses here the greater the need for commercial activities. We can see this through the new Fresh Choice supermarket, new cellphone tower, upgrades on the roads plus new daycare centres going in.''

''This will absolutely have an impact on the residents for the better.''

Meanwhile, Lynley Park manager Phillip Palmer said it was Omokoroa's first fully serviced subdivision and works started at the end of 2003 - the first stage had titles in 2006.

To date, 205 sections had been developed and it was in the final stage when another 20 homes would be completed by early next year.

Its subdivision had "larger than average sections, "generous" road widths, planting and landscaping and provision of reserves and walkways."

Palmer said Lynley Park had not developed all of the original land itself, with some becoming Waterview Estate and Lakeside Terrace, which was developed by another developer.

Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday Park owner Sharon Addison said business had increased by 60 per cent in the past five years.

''It has just been huge.

"We have been here for 22 years, when it was a sleepy, little peninsula paradise. We had a high occupancy rate in the summer but now it is continual all year around.''

However, resident Anne Andrews said the growth needed to be supported by infrastructure and the biggest issue in Omokoroa was SH2.

Another resident, Barbara Walls, said in the seven years she had lived in Omokoroa there had been terrific growth.

''I'm very happy here, I love it and can walk to the beach and the church.''

Resident Neil Badger said Omokoroa's popularity was inevitable but ''quite honestly it's murderous trying to get from Omokoroa into Tauranga''.

Omokoroa Community Board chairman Murray Grainger said any SH2 decisions were in the hands of central government but council and residents could make a ''real positive statement in terms of the future design of the town centre, reserves and interlinking pathways.

Deputy mayor Mike Williams said the amount of money the council had spent on services like upgrading Omokoroa Rd, sewage and stormwater facilities ''it just goes on and on''.

''The amount of money this council has spent on Omokoroa is way more than virtually any other community ... so we are not holding back and we are looking at the future.''

He said Katikati had just got a new library and Omokoroa needs to wait its turn as well and in regards to SH2 which was in the hands of NZTA.

''We have to keep the pressure on central government to make sure that they listen to us and if they want more houses built they have got to do something about the road.''

Mayor Garry Webber told the Bay of Plenty Times last week all the subdivisions in Omokoroa were quite different in terms of the plans, types of topology and the houses.''

''So we are catering for all different parts of the market ... it's very exciting for the Western Bay.''

Council Spend
* In the past three years $11.5 million, predominantly from financial contributions had been used for roading, stormwater, water and wastewater projects.