Flashy Rotorua sections pounced on

By KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
Record breaking sales have seen sections at Rotorua's flashy new Parkland Estates subdivision snapped up.

Just one section now remains.

Not only have the sections sold more quickly than any other subdivision in Rotorua, but they have gone for prices never seen before.

The 33 sections have sold in nine days for prices ranging from $275,000 to $352,000.

The remaining section is priced at $255,000 and is the only one in the estate that does not have views of the city. An 18ha block that towers above Parkland Estate has also gone on the market for $800,000 and is creating a lot of interest.

Parkland Estates will be developed on farmland above Pukehangi Rd, between Sunset Rd and Pegasus Drive.

It has been developed by Eastgate Developments, a company run by Rotorua couples Wayne and Wendy Holmes and Scott and Bev Thomson.

Landscaping features include open grass areas, trees and walking tracks around the estate.

Covenants have been put in place to ensure that building and development work is of a high standard and the area's environmental integrity is maintained.

The quick sale of the sections was particularly noteworthy as there were only 287 house sales over $300,000 in Rotorua in the last year.

Bayleys Realty Groups Rotorua residential sales manager Beth Millard said the subdivision would have a positive impact on the top end of the market.

Ms Millard said most of the homes built on the estate were likely to be worth more than $1m.

Although the development is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, it nearly did not get off the ground because of opposition from neighbouring farmers, the Utuhina Farm Trust.

John Hunt, who farms on the neighbouring Hunt family farm, said although the family was not thrilled about the development popping up next door, there was little that could be done to stop it.

Mr Hunt, who is 75 and has farmed the land nearly all his life, said measures had been put in place to ensure their new neighbours would not prevent the family from farming their land as they normally have.

"We can still spread silage - and you know how that stuff stinks. And they can't complain if we put our stag out and it bellows all night, as they do."

Mr Hunt said he did not think his family would want to sell their farm for a similar subdivision.

"It won't happen in my time. As far as I know we are all quite happy as we are."

Developer Scott Thompson said he was grateful the opposition from the neighbours was dealt with out of court.

"We were able to listen to some of the concerns from neighbours and resolve them. It shows what you can do when you sit around the table and talk openly."

Parkland Estate would also not have gone ahead if it had not been for the sale of an older property on Pukehangi Rd, opposite Sunset Rd.

The house was owned by an elderly Chinese man who is understood to have fiercely bargained for a top price with the developers.

Although the final purchase price is confidential, Mr Thompson said both parties were happy with the outcome.