Almost 100 homes planned for Broad Bay

Steve Clearwater at the site of his planned 72-lot development in Broad Bay, near Dunedin. Photo:...
Steve Clearwater at the site of his planned 72-lot development in Broad Bay, near Dunedin. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Almost 100 houses could be built in a small seaside settlement on the Otago Peninsula if plans come to fruition.

A 72-lot development is planned in Portobello Rd, Broad Bay, near Dunedin.

Just down the road at Camp St, earthworks are taking place at a 23-lot subdivision, and sections there will soon be on the market.

"It’s a big number of houses, absolutely," Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said.

"It will make a difference to that community in a range of different ways."

Broad Bay and Portobello had 489 occupied dwellings and a combined population of 1155 when the 2018 census was taken.

Graphic: ODT
Graphic: ODT
Mr Pope said if all the development went ahead, he hoped it would result in more families coming to the area and more children attending local schools.

He described Broad Bay as largely a commuter community and he expected development would result in more traffic, but it might also lead to more people volunteering for hall committees or conservation activities.

A mix of high-end and more affordable housing is envisaged for the 72-lot project in Portobello Rd and Francis St, for which subdivision and land use consents have been granted by the Dunedin City Council.

Developer Steve Clearwater, who lives on the peninsula, said he needed an investor to come on board, or suitable finance to be arranged, to take the project to the next stage.

He bought the 6.5ha site in February last year.

An attractive walkway through the subdivision could be a feature of the area, Mr Clearwater said.

He was optimistic the development would come together.

"The whole area needs it," he said.

Matthew Keown, of Wanaka, is behind the Camp St project.

The area had been overlooked for residential development for a long time, but boasted all-day sun and outstanding peninsula views, he said.

Development could give the area a more neighbourly feel, Mr Keown said.

The first stage of his project could go to market within two weeks, he said.

A Dunedin City Council spokesman said Mr Clearwater’s proposed development was large by Dunedin standards.

A stormwater management plan would be required before any construction started.

The proposal was acceptable to the council’s three waters and seepage control unit, subject to some conditions, such as installing water-saving devices.

A one-way road would be created off Portobello Rd to service the development.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz


 

Comments

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EEEEEEEK, It was always going to happen once the road was put in place…
change I guess if it’s approved

The roll-out of new subdivisions in Dunedin stands to corrupt many of the virtues of Greater Dunedin purely so that moneyed lifestylers -- predominantly above the age of 45 -- can build their would-be dream homes. It has nothing to do with affordability or the struggles of prospective first-home buyers. Subdivisions are now eroding or destroying the amenity values of sattelite townships from Warrington to Brighton, with the justification being alleged future-proofing against the pressures of climate change and inadequate housing, In short, here as elsewhere, the rush of subdivisions has been sold on a national lie, which many of us have blithely lapped up.

Do you have a house in Dunedin? It was a development once.

I completely agree with the above. The loss of amenity caused by overdevelopment is blighting our once pleasant city suburbs. Queenstown, Wanaka and vast areas of Central Otago are examples of what happens when developers are given free reign to pursue their economic objectives at everyone else's expense.

Get over it - there is plenty of space available in Dunedin and the city needs to grow. If landowners can make money from sub-division they why shouldn't they? Those moneyed lifestylers could possibly sell an older, smaller home to a first time buyer therefore supporting the process. It's attitudes like yours which stifles growth and development in Dunedin pushing people, business and opportunities away.

Was there mention of moneyed lifestylers in the news item? Get over what? Everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it is different.

Where else would you propose new homes be built?

Great news. The council and activists didn't block a development for once. Dunedin seems to have lost its ambition some time about 50 years ago and changed from a main centre to a dying provincial town. A place in decline where more services shut down than open up. Career options are so weak that having a family in Dunedin comes with knowing that your children have to move away to get work. And the land available for residential development doesn't even have an economic or ecological value. Just ex sheep pasture full of slumps and slips and gorse. Projects like this will help to revitalise the city and make it progressive and vibrant again.

Being 'full of slumps and slips' should give you a clue why no-one has considered it suitable for building on before.

Completely agree.

Thanks

These subdivisions provide is an opportunity for other families to enjoy among other things the magnificent views and the stunning physical environment the Otago peninsular has to offer. As the article states the bonus will be for the community and it's local school. To begrudge other families this opportunity would be small minded and elitist, attributes that are unfortunately all too common in New Zealand society.

Development versus over-development. One adds amenity, the other just destroys environments. Which do you think adding over 100 houses to an area such as Broad Bay represents?

The idea of a one-way road pretty clearly shows the developer is planning to cut costs as much as possible before they even start real planning. Buyers beware.

Interesting use of higher ground for home construction, but further north in the township of Waikouaiti (is that rural Dunedin ?) a proposed 50+ house development in lower Beach St is currently before the DCC Planning boffins for consideration or rubber stamp.
What defies logic is that the application is for homes on a flood prone sand dune area within a catchment that is (water table) level with the Hawksbury Lagoon
This zone is close to the sea with the water table lurking not far below.
In the next few days a low, high seas & heavy rain is expected, so will the planning rubber stamp folk go out to Waikouaiti with gummies to check the applications long nose claims ?
Me thinks not.

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