Plan to develop council-owned land in Ōpua for housing

An artist's impression of the homes FNHL may build at Ōpua, in the Bay of Islands. Image / Supplied

Far North Holdings has filed a resource consent application with the Far North District Council to develop and subdivide 17 residential sites off Franklin, Baffin and Kellet streets in Ōpua.

An application has also been filed with the Northland Regional Council for an earthworks consent for the Bay of Islands site.

The district council-owned company says no decisions have yet been taken to build anything on the sites, or who the properties would be marketed to.

"At this stage we are simply securing a development option for this piece of land, which has long been vacant and providing less than satisfactory value for Far North ratepayers," FNH chief executive Andy Nock said.

"We are ascertaining what may be acceptable going forward."

The potential development would help address growing demand for good-quality housing in the Bay of Islands and projected population growth in Ōpua, however, and Nock invited Ōpua residents to review the plans submitted to the council and to let him know if there were any concerns at this early stage.

"We could have sought a higher, apartment-style development, but we did not feel it was in keeping with Ōpua.

"Instead the plans are for a low-density residential scheme, in line with the approved district plan, within an established residential area. It is entirely within consent parameters, and we don't anticipate any formal requirement for public notification or consultation.

"However, as a council-owned company we are aware of an expectation that we listen to the views of the communities in which we operate, and keep them informed of what we plan to do there."

The land is vacant but had in the past been used for Harbour Board housing. The plans used the land's contours and reflected existing Ōpua housing and lot sizes, while the proposed units were modest in scale and reflected the multi-storey development in the area.

The sites ranged in size from 445sq m to 5790sq m, the provisional plan being to build 15 three-bedroom units, one on each of the subdivided sites.