Innovative subdivision for Weraiti

One of the largest and most innovative subdivisions ever to appear in Wairarapa is about to be launched for public submission.
It'll be for people who want all the joy of living in the country, without all the commitment of land control.
Adopting a new concept in land development and unique to this region, the farm park subdivision takes in 74 hectares of undulating farmland atop the Weraiti hill, east of Masterton, commanding stunning 360 degree views of hill country and the valley floor to the Tararuas.
The big difference between this and other rural subdivisions is that the proposed 54 housing sites are all around only half a hectare each, with the surrounding farmland grazed by a farmer, all managed by a body corporate.
There would be just one road into the subdivision off the Masterton to Stronvar Road, and the entranceway will be gated with coded access for residents only. The settlement will have its own sewerage system, dam, walking tracks, native reserve, tennis court and adjacent picnic areas and each house building site has been carefully marked out to not obstruct views.
The people behind the project are Masterton electrical contractor Paul Stiles and his partner, real estate agent, Pru Hamill. Both were in the news recently following the approval of another subdivision at Opaki, where 15 one-hectare lots are being broken up for rural living.
The couple have owned the land on Weraiti hill for around four years and fell in love with the view themselves. Mr Stiles had previously owned the limeworks quarry and knew the area and its impressive views. "We think the Opaki development is pretty good, but this one is spectacular," Ms Hamill said.
Asked if they had any other developments in the wings, she laughed and said "these two will be enough for now".
The idea of the farmpark was suggested to them by planners who have noted the success of them in other parts of the country. The nearest one is in the Esk Valley out of Napier, and Mr Styles and Ms Hamill are travelling there next week to see the concept for themselves.
The manager of the Weraiti Hill farmpark is Grant McLachlan, from Tomlinson and Carruthers Surveyors. He enthusiastically took on the challenge of the subdivision late last year, when Mr Stiles and Ms Hamill approached him.
"It's the best example I've ever seen of doing things well," he said. All 15 neighbours have been told about the plan and given extensive detail well before it is submitted formally in early June to the Masterton District Council for resource management consent.
"The coolest thing about such a rural development is that it affects the land much less than regular rural subdivision by sharing facilities." Each house site will have their own water collection but there will also be corporate water tanks for the entire site as well as the communal sewerage treatment.
The entrance on to the development is off the Masterton-Stronvar road. This road will be straightened "taking out a wicked kink" and a turning lane introduced.
The entrance to the gated community will be set down with walled hillsides and special tarsealing designed to keep traffic noise down.