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Dairy Flat, best known for its bakery and music nights at the community hall, is poised for a dramatic shift as the Auckland Surf Park powers ahead with plans for 500 new homes and a town centre under the Government’s fast-track consent process.
The expanded proposal, championed by a joint venture including international surf park developer Aventuur and New Zealand partners Sir John Kirwan and Mark Francis, promises substantial economic benefits. The developers say the project will add an estimated 11,000 jobs during construction and operations, while the Auckland Surf Park community will create $1.64 billion in regional economic impact over the first six years of the project’s life
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has expressed strong support for project.
“I see this project as helping to solve Auckland’s housing challenges, providing a town centre for the people of Dairy Flat, and creating a new ‘digital hub’. All of these will, also drive economic growth,” he said.
The original development is a state-of-the-art 56-module Wavegarden lagoon, enhanced by innovative sustainable practices including a co-located solar farm and a Spark data centre campus. Notably, excess heat from the data centre will warm the surfing lagoon year-round, a world-first initiative.
The surf park will also feature high-performance sports and leisure facilities, eco-cabins and lodging accommodation, restaurants and public outdoor amenities including walking and cycling trails
The expansion plans were only made public this month. However, the developers emphasise retaining Dairy Flat’s rural essence, planning extensive naturescaping, native planting, stream regeneration, and incorporating rainwater harvesting, composting, and local procurement practices. According to Kirwan, the vision is for a harmonious community integrating recreation, technology, and rural charm.
The surf park project had strong support from the local community, he said.
“This was on show in early May, when we hosted a community day on site. We welcomed over 600 supportive locals, Auckland residents and surfers, as well as local MP Mark Mitchell, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, and Rodney Board Local member Louise Johnston.”
“We believe this expanded project can be the impetus for the positive growth and vibrancy that the Dairy Flat community has been wanting for a long time. It will redefine the area.”
However, Dairy Flat is not without significant infrastructure and environmental challenges that have accumulated over recent years. A key issue is Dairy Flat Highway. Residents frequently raise concerns about road safety, exacerbated by heavy trucks traveling to Redvale Landfill, with an average of 178 truck movements passing Dairy Flat Primary School daily (Hibiscus Matters, April 19, 2022).
The Redvale Landfill itself is another contentious issue. Waste Management NZ’s proposal to extend its operations into the mid-2030s has sparked strong local opposition due to concerns over odour, air quality, noise, and ongoing truck traffic. Residents argue the suburb has already shouldered Auckland’s waste burden long enough (Hibiscus Matters, June 3, 2025).
Dairy Flat is also experiencing significant unplanned industrial development. The Rodney Local Board has voiced concern over the proliferation of industrial yards and depots emerging on rural-zoned land without adequate oversight. A prominent example is a container storage yard approved via a non-notified consent, limiting community input. Board member Louise Johnston described the resulting development as “haphazard,” lamenting the erosion of Dairy Flat’s distinctive rural character (Hibiscus Matters, February 9, 2023).
Adding to community frustrations is Auckland Council’s limited enforcement of zoning breaches. A 2022 policy change due to budget and staffing constraints means many land-use complaints go uninvestigated unless posing immediate risk, leaving residents feeling powerless to protect their local environment (Hibiscus Matters, February 9, 2023).
While Dairy Flat has been identified as a future urban growth area, intended rezoning and infrastructure improvements are still decades away. Nevertheless, some developments, including Fletchers and Fulton Hogan’s request for a private plan change to rezone 107 hectares of future urban land to light industrial are accelerating timelines, creating strain on existing infrastructure. The Rodney Local Board highlighted its concerns about insufficient public transport and wastewater capacity, which could lead to more road congestion and temporary solutions rather than planned urban growth (Hibiscus Matters, July 1 2024).
Public sentiment remains divided. The promise of new amenities, job creation, and economic benefits from projects like the Auckland Surf Park is sorely needed, yet many locals will worry about the loss of the quiet rural lifestyle that attracted them to Dairy Flat in the first place. Rapid urbanisation and inadequate infrastructure improvements pose real threats to the community’s way of life.
Looking ahead, planned transport improvements, including a possible four-laning of Dairy Flat Highway and new motorway interchanges, are only proposed on plans, while Dairy Flat’s rural properties mostly rely on tank water and septic systems right now. Large-scale urban or industrial use will need reticulated services.
The Auckland Surf Park’s expansion could transform Dairy Flat into a vibrant, suburb, but its success may hinge upon resolving these longstanding infrastructure and environmental issues.
The proposal is on the fast-track list but still awaiting final approval.
