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Significant residential and employment growth is expected over the next 30 years in Warkworth with around 1100 hectares earmarked as future urban land. This can accommodate about 7500 additional dwellings, which equates to an additional 20,000 people.
The developers of a large swathe of land south of Warkworth have submitted a private plan change to Auckland Council, which will pave the way for 1600 new residential lots, parks, a retail/business centre, public transport hub and possibly a school.
The residential housing mix will include large lots, single house blocks and terrace and apartment zones.
The plan change seeks to rezone 165 hectares through the introduction of two new precincts – Waimanawa and Morrison Heritage Orchard.
The land, in the vicinity of Valerie Close, is currently split by State Highway 1. When the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway opens, the existing state highway will become an arterial road and the development will become the gateway to Warkworth.
The application was submitted by KA Waimanawa Limited Partnership and Stepping Towards Far Limited, supported by nine adjoining landowners.
If approved, the plan change will move development three years ahead of the timeframe set out in the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy of 2017.
The developers envisage the first houses being occupied by 2025. However, they have given an undertaking that no new dwellings will be connected to the wastewater network until the Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant upgrades and Warkworth to Snells Beach transfer pipeline are completed.
The treatment plant is due to open in early 2025.
The plan change lists 15 key elements, which include protecting key watercourses that traverse the land and feed the upper reaches of the Mahurangi River, and recognising the Avice Miller Reserve and protecting it by limiting the density of residential development alongside it.
The plan also recognises an opportunity for a future public transport interchange and the wider western link road, although the plan proposes a modified alignment for the road.
Infrastructure will include construction of a water reservoir, wastewater pump station, the upgrade of a section of the current SH1 through the plan change area, cycle paths to McKinney Road and Morrison Orchard, and the provision of land for the Waimanawa Wetland Reserve and the Endeans Farm Recreational Park.
Land will be put aside adjacent to a new local centre for a future public transport and bus layover. The developers say Auckland Transport has confirmed that it will not be a park and ride.
The applicants say they are in discussions with the Ministry of Education regarding the provision of land for a new school within the development.
The land is currently zoned future urban, open space – conservation and rural – rural production land and the developers are seeking to change the zoning to a mix of residential, business, open space and rural zones. If the private plan change is accepted by Council, public notification and a call for submissions will follow in due course.
River protection
The plan change area encompasses the two upper reaches of the Mahurangi River. There is currently no public access in these areas of the river. The developers say the re-zoning, then development, of the adjoining land will provide public access to these scenic sections of the river while also protecting the extensive riparian vegetation. The plan promises that the quality of water entering the Mahurangi River will be protected by:
• The retirement of farmland and a former vineyard, which will reduce nutrients and sedimentation entering the local stream network.
• A treatment train approach for stormwater entering the streams and river. This includes the potential for on-site retention and detention, and the creation of wetlands to treat stormwater.
• The creation of esplanade reserves and the protection of the existing vegetation within the reserves at the time of subdivision.
Who are the developers?
KA Waimanawa Limited Partnership
Classic Group has partnered with the New Zealand Super Fund to form the KA Waimanawa Limited Partnership to develop the land on the western side of SH1 owned by KA Waimanawa Limited Partnership. KA Waimanawa Limited Partnership purchased this land in 2021 from Endean Farms and has agreements in place for the future purchase of additional land owned by Endeans Farms. The Classic Group undertakes both land development and construction.
Stepping Towards Far Limited
Stepping Towards Far has signed the sale and purchase agreement with the current owner of the land, Thriving Development Ltd. Stepping Towards Far has the right to develop the land, which is about 46.5h on the eastern side of SH1. In addition, it has partnered with adjoining landowners to incorporate an additional 15ha into the plan change area.
The supporting landowners are the Morrison family, Endeans Farms Ltd, C and W Endean, D and D Morgan Ltd, L and R Crosswell, J and L Gowing, A and H Miles, K and S Richardson and F and K Hames.
