Gisborne city set to grow

Gisborne’s metropolitan urban boundary is about to be substantially expanded – with a large chunk of farmland identified for residential property development being placed on the market for sale.

The former sheep and beef grazing farm block on the seaward side of Kaiti in Gisborne’s eastern suburbs is a 17.7159-hectare property comprising a mix of flat paddocks and sloping hill topography.

Located at 601 Wainui Road, the rural/urban boundary location is some 2km from the city’s central business district – looking across to Kaiti’s existing residential area with the elevated Titirangi Reserve on the coastal horizon.

The majority of the land is zoned General Residential, with the balance zoned Rural Residential, under the Gisborne District Council plan.

Wainui Road – also known as the Pacific Coast Highway – links the Gisborne CBD and harbour with the popular beachside suburb of Wainui, and the East Coast further to the north.

The block has some 650 metres of road frontage and is the largest area of undeveloped residentially zoned land close to the city centre.

It is located midway between Wainui Beach and the Gisborne CBD – linked by a new cycle track which will make it a very attractive place to live.

The 17.715-hectare site at 601 Wainui Road in Gisborne is now being marketed for sale by tender through Bayleys Gisborne, with the tender closing on 4 August.

Salesperson Mike Florance said the property was a ‘blank canvas’ development opportunity which could sustain virtually any configuration of new homes.

Florance said early feedback from local developers indicated that subject to appropriate council consents, the Kaiti site could potentially be subdivided to sustain the creation of more than 150 homes sitting on sections ranging in size from 450-square metres in various configurations and layouts.

“With the growing demand for retirement living developments and facilities – and the possibility of a mixed-use development – this land has unlimited potential for a large and varied development,” Florance said.

“Residential construction in Gisborne has been proceeding at a steady pace in recent years to keep up with the population growth. Opening up Wainui Road will go some way to further helping deliver accommodation solutions to satisfy the ongoing demand from both home and section buyers,” he said.

“The residential zonings of Wainui Road in what was formerly a farming location is Gisborne District Council’s direct response to recognising that what was once farmland on the outskirts of town is now a solution for alleviating housing pressure in the region by making better use of underutilised land in such a prime location so close to the beaches and the city.

“The extensive frontage onto Wainui Road would allow for the development of multiple vehicle entry points into what would be the housing enclave. The majority of the location is zoned General Residential.”

Florance said comprehensive geotechnical reports had been undertaken on the property, and these could be made available to prospective purchasers.

The timing for bringing the large-scale residential development block onto the market for sale is impeccable. Earlier this year Gisborne District Council announced the creation of a “new future-focused strategy” aimed at curbing what it called “a worsening housing crisis” over the coming 30 years.

“With a population expected to grow in the next 30 years, a recently completed Housing Business Assessment (HBA) projects that Tairawhiti will need nearly 30 percent more houses in that time – that’s around 5,000 new homes,” said the council in announcing the project.

“To make up the existing shortfall and provide for the increased demand, areas need to be identified that are suitable for housing growth.

“Almost half of Tairawhiti’s population doesn’t earn enough money to buy or rent a house. This will get worse unless we do something about it.”

“One solution is allowing housing intensification to occur in the right places and in the right way. Redeveloping existing urban areas and building smaller but high-quality dwellings, can bring housing costs down and help create connected communities.

“To make up the existing shortfall and provide for the increased demand, we need to identify more land suitable for housing (known as future growth areas) and allow for housing intensification in the city centre and surrounding areas.”

Strategy head Shane McGhie said: “One solution is allowing housing intensification to occur in the right places and in the right way. Redeveloping existing urban areas and building smaller but high-quality dwellings, can bring housing costs down and help create connected communities.

“It’s important to carefully plan for this sort of growth. If managed well, growth can bring about benefits for the whole community,” he added.

Among multiple sites suggested for housing development and intensification in and around Gisborne was the bare block at 601 Wainui Road.

A post on the council’s website for the development land at 601 Wainui Road notes: “Here there is lots of land, close to the city.”

The council aims to have the Future Development Strategy completed by the end of the year.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand data for May shows Gisborne district’s median house price grew by 7.3 percent year-on-year - with the median price at $625,000 - up from $620,000 in same month last year.

- Article supplied by Bayleys