Byline: Graham Hepburn
About three years ago, three young entrepreneurs got together with the plan of buying some coastal land to create a low-key and affordable seaside community within an easy drive of Queenstown.
The three -- Bas Smith, John Shewry and Scott Freeman -- have subdivision, building and town planning skills respectively that they combined to create Takitimu Estates at Te Wae Wae Bay on the southern coast of the South Island about 10 minutes' drive from Riverton.
Their dream of creating a bachy seaside community in harmony with the environment was hard won, though. They consulted extensively with local farmers and iwi, and went through an 18-month resource consent process with the Southland District Council, which seems unlikely to approve any more standalone coastal developments in the near future.
''What we've tried to create is a contemporary development that's sensitive to the environment and that will eventually be like a little seaside village,'' says Bas.
The site slopes gently down to the sea giving the rear sections a 6m elevation above the waterfront sections. That elevation and the fact that houses will be restricted to one storey mean that all the properties will enjoy uninterrupted views.
The properties have all services, including access to broadband internet, although owners will have to install septic tanks. The development has been landscaped with natives, including flax, and is based around a theme of the legend of the sunken waka of Te Wae Wae Bay. A 2m carved waka prow, which marks the entrance to the estate, is just one of the sculptures and pieces of art on the site.
In keeping with the maritime theme, materials such as rock, recycled timber, ropes and sail cloth have been used throughout the communal land, which will have a covered barbecue area and a children's playground. Walkways down to the beach have also been formed and planted. Work on the site is expected to be finished at the end of this month.
Bas says the development has been created with enduring quality in mind -- and all the directors have taken sections at Takitimu and plan to be there for the long term. The development has a set of design controls drawn up by architects Warren and Mahoney, and a lot owners' association will vet building plans to make sure these guidelines are followed.
As Bas says, ''These sites are incredible value for quality coastal property as part of a unique secluded community.''
Residents can enjoy the spectacular coastline and sea life such as paua, crayfish, cod, flounder and tuatua. Bas says they have also seen southern right whales 100m offshore over the summer months. And there's surfing at a multitude of different breaks nearby.
For those wanting some cafe action, Riverton is a buzzing little fishing town a short drive away.
With three lots (numbers 2, 6 and 9) under conditional contracts, only three of the original 19 lots are left for sale, with the three directors having been allotted two each and the others being sold through word of mouth to buyers in Queenstown, Auckland and Britain.
Aucklander Jimmy Gardner is one of those buyers, having secured a waterfront section.
''There's great surf, lots of fishing and great views,'' says Jimmy. ''One of the things we liked was that it's so far away from the rest of the world -- it's right at the bottom of the world really. We'll just put a little house down there. I think it's a great thing to have a development with a consistent theme instead of a hotchpotch of styles that you see in a lot of places.''
SIZE: Sections range in size from 1485sq m to 2800sq m.
PRICE: $320,000 each.
INSPECT: By appointment.
ON THE WEB: www.takitimuestates.com
CONTACT: Bas Smith, ph 021 616 141, or John Shewry 027 252 9190.
FEATURES: Waterfront sections with views across Te Wae Wae Bay to mountains of Milford Sound. Development landscaped throughout, including communal land with barbecue area and children's playground. All services to sections including broadband but with the exception of sewerage.
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