Puriri Park Rd housing to start soon

The first work on the site of what will become 37 new homes is set to begin by the end of October at 67-87 Puriri Park Rd, Maunu.

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities is working with Whangarei District Council to satisfy all pre-start conditions to get underway on-site.

Work will begin on deconstructing a house on the site, before earthworks, underground infrastructure and roading begin. Construction of new homes on the 1.6-hectare site will begin in the first quarter of 2021.

The 37 homes will consist of 15 one-bedroom units that would be suitable for older people, with the rest being family homes of 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes ranging in size from two- to five-bedrooms. A community room that will provide a focal point in the area will also be built on the site. Kāinga Ora Programme Director, Nick Seymour, says the homes are urgently needed.

“The demand for state housing has been steadily growing in Whangārei for the past few years. Not only are these homes much-needed but the work to develop the site and build the homes will see opportunities for local suppliers and tradespeople,” Mr Seymour said.

Work was delayed by the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown in March, then by the onset of winter, which is an unsuitable time of year for large-scale earthworks. Residents then asked Kāinga Ora to defer demolition of the house while a heritage assessment was undertaken.

The heritage submission paper submitted by the Maunu Residents has been reviewed/assessed and then peer- reviewed by a specialist Heritage Architect. The peer review concluded the house has some minor historical significance, but is not of major heritage value. The peer reviewer recommended a detailed photographic record of the house be made before demolition. Kāinga Ora has completed a photographic record of the home, and will seek an appropriate community organisation to whom it will give this record.