Omokoroa is the first area in the Western Bay designated as a Special Housing Area under the Housing Accord signed in August between the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Central Government.
The land being considered by Council lies between State Highway 2 and the railway, adjoining the northern side of Omokoroa Road, with letters already sent to landowners inside and adjoining the proposed area.
The proposed Omokoroa special housing area.
Under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013, special housing areas can be established to provide for the fast-tracking of new housing to the market.
Under the accord, Council has the power to streamline resource consent approvals, allowing consents to be processed faster than under the standard provisions of the Resource Management Act.
WBOPDC resource management manager Phillip Martello says Omokoroa is one of the district's growth areas in which Council has already invested substantial infrastructure to cater for a future population capacity of 12,000.
'The development of a special housing area in Omokoroa will complement the current higher priced developments on the peninsular by making purchasing a home more feasible for a wider range of people, including first home buyers and those on low and medium incomes.”
Among the benefits of the accord will be the broadening of the ratepayer base and the ability to recoup the costs spent on infrastructure, says Phillip.
It also gives Council the opportunity to sell some of its land to assist in recovering costs.
Phillip says ‘affordable housing' in the Omokoroa context does not mean low cost or social housing.
It will provide housing that is contemporary, affordable and accessible to a wider range of buyers.
Any development in the special housing area must meet the provisions of the Accord Act in order to use the fast-tracked and more permissive planning and consenting processes.
Council is also in control of where special housing areas are created and what rules apply to developments within those areas.
This is important to ensure quality developments are in the right location, says Phillip.
'Developments must be predominantly residential and Council intends to apply the medium density residential provisions of the district plan which have a high level of urban design control.”
More information can be found on council's website at: http://haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/omokoroa-sha
This webpage also allows you to provide comments and take part in a forum discussion. Alternatively email Phillip Martelli at: Phillip.martelli@westernbay.govt.nz
9 comments
Wrong
Posted on 30-09-2014 10:58 | By Capt_Kaveman
location, this is an area for people who retire or who can look after themselves, from here no matter where you work its a long way to anywhere, does not make sense
Housing
Posted on 30-09-2014 12:15 | By DAD
Why dont Council let Bob Clarkson go ahead with his Development, first home buyers dont want to be so far out of town!
DAD
Posted on 30-09-2014 13:32 | By maccachic
Isn't Bobs development out of town as well? Just make subdivision easier instead of the month's and huge $$ it current takes. Cut some Council fat and become more efficient, restrict the outrageous covenants on new subdivisions and let building consents approve what dwellings are acceptable. Not everyone wants to live in a 160m2+ house.
um
Posted on 30-09-2014 13:50 | By dave4u
this council not silly rates are 1K more per dwelling in Omok than anywhere else in tga best place to fill the purse via more housing
Correct 'Dad' and 'Capt_Kaveman
Posted on 30-09-2014 15:12 | By Murray.Guy
Agreed, it doesn't make sense, and the reason is obvious....Common-sense plays no part in these discussions and decisions. Chew up more rural land for residential 20 kms from employment, more cars on an already very dangerous highway! As the spokesperson said, this isn't about ensuring homes are more affordable, it's about an increase in rate take and a chance to flog of Council land - a very clear conflict of interest. The Tauriko land requires part TCC and part WBOP Council support, has minimal impact on the highway, adds enormous value to the Southern Pipe Line BUT unfortunately as with TCC, egos and mates of mates to pull their heads in and apply a little integrity to their decision making. The urban design busy bodies are going to dictate how your home will look, feel. Yuk!
Area of convenience
Posted on 30-09-2014 18:03 | By DAD
Tauriko is close to the toll road which makes it easy to get to CBD,close to Greerton, close to the new Industrial area which is providing employment and there is going to be a shopping centre in that area!
Why Not Te Puna?
Posted on 30-09-2014 19:40 | By Mary Faith
I am surprised to read that Omokoroa has been chosen in preference to Te Puna as a designated area for future residential development! Omokoroa is so far from Tauranga City and with equal distance to reach Kati Kati town centre. If this is to go ahead then a huge opportunity presents for a developer to build a town centre - with supermarket and all the trimmings. Omokoroa has facilities which at present could be described as primitive at best! Te Puna on the other hand is the next suburb out from Bethlehem where all facilities are in place for growth expansion around that area. Common sense needs to be applied in this instance!
Great idea
Posted on 01-10-2014 07:40 | By milka
Ideal place for it I hear a supermarket chain has bought land in this area and only 13 km to town not 20 this whole peninsula should be in housing rather than isolated pockets
Common sense!
Posted on 01-10-2014 09:04 | By Raewyn
What are the people in Council thinking! The obvious places to open up to housing are and should be closer to the City!
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