Property news in brief

McConnell obtains contract at Whangaparoa

McConnell Property has been confirmed as the developer for a new 59-home housing development in an urban area on Whangaparaoa Peninsula, on Auckland’s North Shore. A development agreement for the former council-owned site in Link Crescent in Stanmore Bay was signed this week with construction due to start in the first half of next year. The agreement will see the council-owned site bought by McConnell Property. Former council controlled organisation Auckland Council Property Limited (now Panuku Development Auckland) has overseen the engagement process. Panuku interim chief executive John Dalzell says the Link Crescent project demonstrates the role Panuku will play in supporting housing. Initial plans indicate up to 59 homes with a mix of detached and non-detached two to four bedroom townhouses.  The 2ha site will also include a new landscaped public reserve, a playground and a wetland, as well as associated storm water infrastructure to provide improved drainage. Planning and consent applications are expected to be lodged before the end of the year with construction due to start in the second quarter of 2016.

JLL appoints senior project manager

Rachel van Doorn has been appointed as a senior project manager to JLL Wellington’s Project and Development Services (PDS) division. She joins associate director Sonia Waters to coordinate the management of the base build refurbishment of St Pauls Square on behalf of AMP Capital. St Paul’s Square is a 13-level office tower and forms part of the Wellington Accommodation Project (WAP2) roll out, an initiative to reduce the Crown’s property footprint by providing government agencies with modernised accommodation that optimises space. Ms van Doorn was previously in the public sector, working on construction projects for Wellington City Council and Corrections, and most recently worked on the nationwide rollout of 2 Degrees mobile towers with GHD.

New Marlborough council CEO

Mark Wheeler has been appointed the new chief executive of the Marlborough District Council, succeeding  retiring chief executive Andrew Besley. Mr Wheeler is the council’s deputy chief executive and heads the council’s assets and services department.  He has been a member of the council’s senior management team for the last 17 years. A qualified accountant, Mr Wheeler moved to Marlborough to work for the Riverlands Foods Group. He then moved to the Alliance Group, based in Invercargill, before moving back to Marlborough in 1997 to the council.

Wellington gets OK for waterfront building

The Environment Court has agreed to construction of a five-storey building on the North Kumutoto area of Wellington’s waterfront and the redevelopment of the public areas nearby. While the approval is subject to conditions, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the decision is an endorsement of the city council’s decision to support the current design. She says the proposed construction of the building by Willis Bond, and the associated upgrade of public areas will transform the site.

Transmission Gully works start

Twenty-five years after the Transmission Gully Motorway was first mooted, officials and politicians gathered to officially start work at Paekakariki. So far, a sediment retention pond has been built, while a dam to source construction water and a clean water diversion are being completed. Design work on the project is nearing completion. Bulk earthworks will begin by the end of the month. The 27km, four-lane road is the first state highway in New Zealand to be constructed under public-private partnership. The Wellington Gateway Partnership (WGP), a group of contractors overseeing targets set by the New Zealand Transport Agency, is constructing and financing the motorway, and will maintain it for 25 years after its completion (expected in 2020).

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