Given its location in the heart of Whangaparaoa, 20 Link Crescent has long represented a significant opportunity to bring more housing onto the Auckland market in an area valued for its coastal lifestyle and strong community connections.

In late 2015 Panuku entered into a development agreement with McConnell Property to deliver 60 new homes and a 2700m2 public reserve, including a children’s playground on this site.  McConnell Property secured resource consent for the development in July 2016, and all the earthworks, drainage and roads in the subdivision are now completed and the titles issued.

The subdivision will be known as Mariner Rise and will consist of two, three and four bedroom homes with a mix of terrace and standalone housing with a focus on quality design.

In late October 2017 the 2700sqm public reserve and children’s playground was also opened, and construction of the first homes will begin in January 2018.

Consultation for the future use of the site dates back to 2001. In 2009 Rodney District Council approved the land for sale subject to further public consultation. In 2014 options for the layout of the development were presented to the local community, iwi and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. Auckland Council Property Limited (ACPL) received feedback from the local community around what you wanted to see and what you were concerned about.

ACPL, and now Panuku, have worked to take that feedback on board and now have a masterplan that includes a reserve with an adjacent wetland addressing the site’s storm water management. McConnell Property has evolved the masterplan to make best use of the site.

Panuku has been working closely with Auckland Council storm water on an innovative solution to mitigate the loss of streams and wetland caused by the development at 20 Link Crescent.

Through a process known as ‘daylighting’ a historical stream running through D’Oyly reserve in Stanmore Bay will be returned from an underground pipe to a more natural state, offsetting the loss of a stream at 20 Link Crescent. This will support plant life, provide a haven for birds, improve the passage for fish, and act as a natural filter to prevent pollutants from reaching the sea, 

Panuku and Auckland Council will be completing the first stage of this project.  D’Oyly reserve backs onto Stanmore Bay School so potential for future development exist within this project such as outdoor classrooms, cycle and walk ways and play areas.

The project is a great example of the benefits that can come from various parts of Auckland Council working together with a private developer.