It was estimated to have capacity for at least 3000 homes plus schooling, local and neighbourhood commercial centres and community facilities.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Cooney said he had received about 100 registrations of interest from prospective homeowners since December.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a real severe shortage of available zoned land in Tauranga … \u201d<\/p>\n
Tauriko West was owned by three major landholders – the Government, Element IMF and Classic Group, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween us all, we\u2019ve probably got approximately three to four thousand houses in total.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the inclusion of a retirement village, Cooney said there was a \u201chuge desire\u201d for people to retire in Tauranga and the city had an ageing population.<\/p>\n
Classic Group had already responded to this demand with its nearby retirement village, The Vines, at Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooney said retirement village projects generally took five to eight years.<\/p>\n
Classic Group director Peter Cooney.<\/p>\n
Cooney said it had taken nine-and-a-half years to begin earthworks. He attributed the lengthy period to \u201ctoo much red tape\u201d and uncertainty in the Resource Management Act (RMA) process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen there is a major shortage of housing, that\u2019s just a no-no.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Government announced in December that it would repeal the RMA <\/a>and replace it with a Planning Act and a Natural Environment Act.<\/p>\n The new laws aim to standardise zoning<\/a>, making more activities permitted without resource consent.<\/p>\n RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the changes would pivot the country towards a system that embraced \u201cchoice, freedom and opportunity\u201d, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the reforms would mean \u201cless \u2018no\u2019 and a lot more \u2018yes\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n Cooney said he was \u201cvery pleased that we\u2019ve finally … got to a stage where we can provide housing for a very starved community\u201d.<\/p>\n Tauranga City Council strategy, partnerships and growth general manager Christine Jones said the development of Tauriko West would have a \u201csignificant impact\u201d in meeting current and future housing needs in Tauranga.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Tauriko West site up for sale <\/p>\n Meanwhile, another significant piece of Tauriko West land has hit the market.<\/p>\n State housing agency K\u0101inga Ora has listed 82ha of its Ferncliffe Farm site, off State Highway 29, for sale.<\/p>\n Bayleys has started the marketing campaign for the sale via deadline private treaty on April 2.<\/p>\n The block is advertised as having the potential to deliver 850-plus homes, with early infrastructure capacity for about 600.<\/p>\n