A substantial block of bare land within what is being developed as a recreational airport and lifestyle residential subdivision for aviation enthusiasts has been placed on the market.
The 26.8-hectare property on the northwestern outskirts of Hamilton is part of the privately-owned and operated Te Kowhai Airpark, established by microlight creator Max Clear in 1967 and steadily expanded over the years until his death in 2011.
Based on his love of flying, Clear founded Micro Aviation NZ and went on to design and build 354 Bantam microlight aircraft, many of which were exported around the world.
With its flat grass runway, Te Kowhai Airpark hosted New Zealand's first aviation trade show shortly before Clear's passing.
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The already developed portion of Te Kowhai Airpark’s airfield consists of multiple adjoining aircraft hangars. The hangars are fully tenanted.
The bigger hangars contain about 1,000 square metres of fully enclosed warehousing style areas encompassing a range of workshops, offices, lounges, and storerooms leased to a variety of tenants. Many have privately-owned aircraft housed there.
A commercially operated aviation fuel facility is also located on the Limmer Road property and leased and operated by BP for fuel delivery.
The development of the adjoining Airpark housing is the next stage in the evolution of the Te Kowhai Airpark, which will involve four distinct precincts, encompassing the runway, a commercial area for the hangars and workshops, 39 medium-density residential plots, and 70 larger sections. All precincts have taxiway connections to the grass runway.
There has been strong interest in the Airpark housing opportunities from aviation enthusiasts looking to capitalise on the very rare and unique opportunity to live in close proximity to the airfield.
The landholding for sale comprises the two residential precincts. The first portion of 21.4 hectares has been set aside for the development of the 70 larger sections ranging in size from 1,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres, while the second portion of 5.4 hectares has been set aside for the development of 39 medium-density sections ranging from 350 square metres to 2,000 square metres.
The property at 172 and 178 Limmer Road in Te Kowhai is classified Te Kowhai Airpark zone under the Waikato District Council plan and is being jointly marketed for sale by expression of interest through Bayleys Hamilton and Bayleys Auckland, with offers closing on August 17.
Salespeople David Cashmore, Gerald Rundle, and Rebecca Bruce said the property and its development potential embraced the latest evolution in Kiwi hobby enthusiasts’ lifestyle living,
“Over the decades we’ve seen golf resort residential developments such as Kinloch in Taupo, Millbrook in Queenstown, and Gulf Harbour in Auckland with homes overlooking the fairways and greens. Then came canal and waterway residential developments such as Marsden Bay in Northland, Pauanui in the Coromandel, and The Waterways in Whitianga, where homeowners could moor their luxury launches off jetties at the end of the garden.
"Most recently we’ve seen the evolution of the motor enthusiast residential complex at Hampton Downs in the North Waikato,” said Cashmore.
“Te Kowhai Airpark is the next chapter –showcasing a relatively new concept for New Zealand - where aviation activities and residential opportunities can co-exist. When completed, Te Kowhai Airpark will offer lifestyle residential opportunities for like-minded aviation enthusiasts to live with similarly minded neighbours.
“With New Zealand being one of the most aviation orientated nations in the world – having a high ratio of pilots and aircraft within the general population – Waikato District Council has shown extreme vision and foresight to create the appropriate land zoning for a highly targeted development around Te Kowhai Airpark.”
Cashmore said Te Kowhai Airpark would not only appeal to fixed-wing aviation enthusiasts, but also to helicopter owners/pilots, and microlight operators.
Te Kowhai is only five minutes' drive from the northern Hamilton suburb of Te Rapa, and 12 kilometres from Hamilton’s central business district.
The township predominantly consists of working farms and lifestyle properties. Infrastructure includes a childcare centre, café, shops, and a retirement village.
"With the new Waikato Expressway efficiently linking Auckland to Hamilton, the catchment area for Te Kowhai Airpark users now stretches up into Auckland's southern reaches," said Bruce.
“It's not every day an airfield comes up for sale. The block for sale is 'a blank canvas' potential to finally bring Max Clear's lifestyle development to fruition - with the original civil engineer's report available for inspection.
“Residential living in this locale will be totally different from anything else on the market and would appeal not only to those who have small aircraft which may be housed within the hangars nearby, but also to those who simply enjoy the romance of aviation and want to be close to a recreational airfield,” she said.
“The opportunity is also available for aviation enthusiasts to build hangars on their own sites so that they can use the taxiways to access the runway.
“With the existing hangars on site already full, there is also the opportunity for owners of those aircraft to buy sections within the development and build homes or additional hangars.”
- Article supplied by Bayleys
