It was estimated to have capacity for at least 3000 homes plus schooling, local and neighbourhood commercial centres and community facilities.
The Riverside development is adjacent to the former Ferncliffe Farm, and behind what used to be the old Caltex station. It goes down to the Wairoa River and down towards Redwood Lane.
Cooney said he had received about 100 registrations of interest from prospective homeowners since December.
“There’s been a real severe shortage of available zoned land in Tauranga … ”
Tauriko West was owned by three major landholders – the Government, Element IMF and Classic Group, he said.
“Between us all, we’ve probably got approximately three to four thousand houses in total.”
On the inclusion of a retirement village, Cooney said there was a “huge desire” for people to retire in Tauranga and the city had an ageing population.
Classic Group had already responded to this demand with its nearby retirement village, The Vines, at Bethlehem.
“Now, by integrating this new village … we can enable more locals to remain in Tauranga in their retirement, in a unique riverside environment that balances rural lifestyle with proximity to town and urban amenities.”
Cooney said retirement village projects generally took five to eight years.
Classic Group director Peter Cooney.
Cooney said it had taken nine-and-a-half years to begin earthworks. He attributed the lengthy period to “too much red tape” and uncertainty in the Resource Management Act (RMA) process.
“When there is a major shortage of housing, that’s just a no-no.”
The Government announced in December that it would repeal the RMA and replace it with a Planning Act and a Natural Environment Act.
The new laws aim to standardise zoning, making more activities permitted without resource consent.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the changes would pivot the country towards a system that embraced “choice, freedom and opportunity”, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the reforms would mean “less ‘no’ and a lot more ‘yes’”.
Cooney said he was “very pleased that we’ve finally … got to a stage where we can provide housing for a very starved community”.
Tauranga City Council strategy, partnerships and growth general manager Christine Jones said the development of Tauriko West would have a “significant impact” in meeting current and future housing needs in Tauranga.
Jones said the council was working with landowners/developers about the potential purchase of land for council-funded open spaces and community facilities, and their eventual delivery.
“It’s pleasing to see development getting underway, as this is a major milestone for Tauriko West and comes after around 10 years of planning, infrastructure and funding process.”
Tauriko West site up for sale
Meanwhile, another significant piece of Tauriko West land has hit the market.
State housing agency Kāinga Ora has listed 82ha of its Ferncliffe Farm site, off State Highway 29, for sale.
Bayleys has started the marketing campaign for the sale via deadline private treaty on April 2.
The block is advertised as having the potential to deliver 850-plus homes, with early infrastructure capacity for about 600.
Kāinga Ora bought the 95ha farm for $70.4 million in 2021, planning to build 1000 homes.
The remaining land would go to the NZ Transport Agency for its SH29 upgrade and the Ministry of Education for a new primary school.
An aerial view of the 95ha Ferncliffe Farm.
A Kāinga Ora statement said that over the past few years it had prepared the land for rapid development by securing zoning, consents, and roading upgrades.
The agency said this meant the successful buyer would be able to quickly deliver new housing because the site was development-ready.
Kāinga Ora’s acting urban development and delivery general manager, Nick Howcroft, said the sale of Ferncliffe Farm supported the wider development of Tauriko West.
“Through selling this land, we’re enabling essential transport and education infrastructure for the growing community and unlocking opportunities for the rapid development of new housing,” he said.
Proceeds from the sale of the property would be reinvested in delivering new and improved housing.
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.