| 95 T T Hugh de Lacy Buyers drawn to Ruapehu development The subdivision is a two-hectare site bisected by a wetland, and has been developed in two stages. Maunga Teitei Developments DEVELOPMENT Things have been tough in the Ruapehu District over the past couple of years, but that hasn’t stopped the sale of all 30 residential lots in a new subdivision in the mountain town of Ohakune. Maunga Teitei Developments, a company owned and run by Wellington contaminated land specialist Dave Bull, has given Ruapehu District something to cheer about in the face of the economic gloom that has shrouded it lately. The subdivision is a two-hectare site bisected by a wetland, and has been developed in two stages, the first comprising 17 lots and the second 13. All the sections have been sold, and there are already eight houses up on stage 1 and a couple on stage 2. The respective stages have been planned around two cul-de-sacs running off Shannon Street, an arrangement which obviated the need for the bridge that the Ruapehu District Council initially thought might be needed. “Instead, we reached an agreement whereby we cut off and fenced about 10% of the land area running between the two stages, and have planted that as a stormwater runoff,” Dave says. “The local iwi, Ngati Rangi, bought the last few sections left in stage 2 to provide first homes for young Maori families in the district, which we’re so happy to provide for. “It’s been a relief to see the whole subdivision sold, because the district has been going through hard times with the closure of the timber mills on which the town’s economy was based, and the collapse of the company running the Turoa ski-field. “Things are looking brighter now that the ski-field has confirmed it’s re-opening this winter, and the success of our sub-division proves there’s growth in the community yet.” Dave and wife Simone are based in Wellington, but they have always been drawn to Mount Ruapehu and its beautiful surrounds, and were convinced that, at a time when the big cities are shedding population to the provinces and small towns, the opportunity to buy residential land in Ohakune would be attractive to both full-time and seasonal residents. “The arrangements we made with the district council over the subdivision’s stormwater come under a new initiative in the control of run-off water, a concept called ‘stormwater neutrality’,” Dave says. “This aims to direct stormwater away from residential areas to cleared land, where it can be absorbed without increasing the danger of flooding. It was a concept introduced to us by the council, and we were happy to run with it. “The stormwater design work was done by the Wellington firm, Morphum Environmental, while Byford Contracting of Taihape were the lead civil contractors for the earthmoving, roadworks and services, and they did a fantastic job too. “Also a major contributor was the local surveying firm, Plateau Surveying, which has been around since 1982.” Dave says he’s “relieved” at the success of the subdivision, the first he’s launched, and he’s looking forward to seeing the rest of the homes built and occupied within a couple of years. HAKARAIA DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL RURAL Proud to support Maunga Teitei Subdivision Mobile: 027 363 2568 Email: alex@hakaraiaelectrical.com Ph: (06) 388 0126 | www.byfords.co.nz Contract Crushing • Aggregate Supplies • Civil Contracting Proudly supportingMaunga Teitei Subdivision
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