Locals check out new plans helping to shape Ōmokoroa's future

Western Bay of Plenty District Council resource management manager Philip Martelli. Photo / John Borren

Bold plans have been released to help shape Ōmokoroa's future development.

Ōmokoroa residents were presented with four options for the future location of schools, a town centre, community hub and recreational reserves at a public open day yesterday. The options detailed rough locations of new land to be subdivided and identified the areas for medium density and rural residential housing as well as alternative locations for industrial areas.

The detailed options are the next phase of the proposed Structure Plan for the area between the railway line and State Highway 2 which is expected to support a community of more than 12,000 residents by 2060.

The Government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity introduced in 2016 required growth areas to have at least 10 years supply of zoned, serviced and ready to build on residential land.

At that time, Ōmokoroa had just nine years of supply left.

Plans to accommodate the future growth include ensuring a variety of section sizes and types of housing are provided, including one- and two-bedroom homes, town houses and traditional stand-alone houses.

Dozens turned up to the public open day. Photo / John Borren

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council's senior planner, Andries Cloete, said Ōmokoroa's growing area needed adequate land for industrial areas that will provide for the community's needs as well as employment opportunities for residents.

"We would like people to live and work in Ōmokoroa," he said.

Space for cemeteries and what was being done to fix SH2 were also concerns raised by residents which Cloete said were being considered.

He said once the preferred option was signed off by the council, a detailed plan would be brought back to public consultation early next year. The entire process could take about two years.

Council resource management manager Philip Martelli said people were most interested to know if there would be space for new schooling.

Martelli said the council and the Ministry of Education were looking at options to cater for the projected population growth as part of the structure planning process.

"Timing of any land acquisition and school establishment will be determined by projected demand and the ministry's funding priorities," he said.

Ōmokoroa resident Marylyn Smith said she did not expect to see so much residential land, but she was glad to see schools were planned for the area to accommodate new families moving into the area.

"If the houses are destined for families, that means there will be children ... It would make quite a difference to people if they could go to a school here."

Smith said she was undecided on which option she proffered, but was embracing the change.

"It is progress and you can't stop progress," she said.

Hayley Chapman had lived in Ōmokoroa for nearly six years and was pleased to see a new secondary school was being considered.

"At 8am you can see all those children waiting on State Highway 2 for a bus which is just silly," she said. "We need a secondary school here."

Chapman also hoped to see a bigger village centre planned for the community.

Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber said Ōmokoroa was expected to have more than 12,000 residents on the peninsula by 2060.

He said feedback from residents had been about trying to keep as much green space as possible while also creating a modernised community.

"We are listening to residents' views and will over time put something in place that primarily suits the whole community," he said.

Meanwhile, a commercial development was being proposed on a 1.6ha site next to FreshChoice supermarket on the corner of Tralee St and Hamurana Rd.

The Cooney Family Trust members are excited about the development plans for a commercial block.

Brendan Cooney said it had been his father's dream to develop the land into a shopping centre.

"We are just trying to carry on what he wanted," he said.