70 | Island sanctuary close to CBD Parakeau Island, at 20ha, is the second largest in Manakau Harbour. It has been sub-divided into 103 sections, nearly half of which have been pre- sold at prices from $1.6m to $3.5m. T T Hugh de Lacy DEVELOPMENT Ross Holdings: Karaka Harbourside Estate A secure and exclusive gated sub-division on an island in Manukau Harbour, three minutes from the Papakura motorway and barely half an hour from the Auckland CBD, is snapping up high net worth buyers craving a sanctuary so close to the city. Pararekau Island is a residential development by brothers Ian and Jim Ross, trading as Ross Holdings, and it can be reached only by way of a causeway to the neighbouring Kopuahingahinga Island, a 6ha nature reserve. After driving through the bush, residents reach a second causeway leading to Pararekau Island which has been sub-divided into 103 sections, nearly half of which have been pre- sold at prices from $1.6m to $3.5m. A further stage of 13 consented lots on the western side of the island is yet to be built. Titles are expected to be issued in late April, early May. At 20ha Pararekau Island is the second largest in Manukau Harbour and Ross Holdings planned to build a retirement resort there, though this was later changed back to a residential sub-division. The development offers an extraordinary opportunity, given the density of the population so close to the Auckland CBD, to completely escape the city for a lifestyle offering the highest levels of privacy and security. This is assured by an automatic gate on the second causeway that recognises car licence plates, and opens only to residents. To further protect its security and exclusivity, the Pararekau Island development is covered by covenants and building specifications that include limiting each section to one house only, with no duplexes or second-hand materials allowed. “The Council specifies that houses have to be at least three metres from the front boundary, and one metre each from the sides and back,” Ross Holdings General Manager Andrew Frost says. “The idea is that people escape from the motorway and within minutes are driving through the Kopuahingahinga bush which gives them this sense of isolation from the city on the way to their homes on Pararekau. “The nature reserve on Kopuahingahinga will never be built on, so it offers a permanent buffer between Pararekau and the mainland. “Having a retreat like that so close to the city centre is pretty amazing in this day and age.”The sections are accessed by a road that goes the length of the island, and there’s a walking track round the perimeter. Houses are restricted to a maximum of two storeys and a minimum footprint of 180m2, and all house and landscape designs have to be approved by the developer. All services – water, sewerage, power and fibre broadband - are linked to the Auckland City systems, and those preferring gas to electricity can have it supplied by bottle. Among the sub-division’s occupancy rules are a ban on public nudity, weeds higher than 15cm and washing lines visible from the road. Pararekau Island was a farm for 80 years before the Environment Court approved its subdivision in 2012, with a requirement that the developers build the coastal walkway. Planning and Resource Management Specialists Providing comprehensive easy to understand planning advice and effective resource management solutions. www.hpcplanning.co.nz 11 Martyn St, Waiuku (09) 235 3252 Proudly supporting Ross Holdings www.danajohnston.co.nz dana@danajohnston.co.nz Driven by a commitment to excellence, Dana Johnston Design Studio believes an investment in quality landscape design is one of the best things to increase a property’s value. Whether it’s a backyard retreat, a sprawling estate, or a commercial development, we approach every project with creativity, professionalism, and attention to detail. Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . t f . . / i ti 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, profiling their success. t i f r ; r it i r i i - r r ll i t r , r fili t ir . businessnorth
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=