Subdivision go-ahead will unlock prime land

Developer Keryn Amon has the go-ahead to subdivide part of his St Johns Hill property, creating 10 residential sections in the first stage. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Pressure on prime residential building sites in Wanganui will be eased slightly with a new subdivision set to open on St Johns Hill.

Keryn and Jodie Amon, who own about 8 hectares off the end of Tirimoana Place off Great North Rd, have been granted council consents and will create 10 sections in the first stage of the subdivision.

Some of the sections in the first stage have sea views and Mr Amon said they hope to open up the bulk of the land for more residential development.

"That's the plan if the first stage sells and already we've sold four of the first 10 sections without beginning any advertising. We haven't gone to council to get approvals for the second stage but that will probably come."

He said the family would retain about 3ha of the property to maintain a "rural feel" to the subdivision.

"In terms of price, I'm asking $180 per square metre and prices will vary depending on the size of the section, but they're around the $140,000-plus mark," he said.

Most of the sections are about 850-900sq m.

Mr Amon said there were caveats on the sections too, so they could not be bought and then subdivided again. And other covenants dictated the quality of the homes to be built.

"So there won't be an speculator-type houses being built here," he said.

Access will be off the end of Tirimoana Place, a short cul de sac currently servicing a handful of houses.

"The highest point in the new road will be where it leaves the existing section of Tirimoana Place. It will also solve a problem with stormwater that council has. With the new road the stormwater will be directed into services that will go under the new road we create," he said.

"I know there are other developers looking at subdivisions in other parts of the city but not so much up in this area."

Mr Amon said getting the subdivision approved "spoke volumes" of the council's infrastructure team who were "excellent" to deal with.

"I've spent about a year having talks with council staff and we've come up with a system that works."

He acknowledged his approach was "arse about face" and that meant getting consent approvals first and then dealing with engineering issues after.

"I wasn't going to spend $50,000 and getting something drawn up that potentially was not going to be allowed to happen.

"Council understood that and while there are a few conditions, it's worked," he said.

Mr Amon plans to have roading out for pricing in January with the first houses being built from the middle of 2014.