Manukau City: Secluded pocket

Here lies a one-off opportunity on the city's doorstep, writes VICKI HOLDER.

The rare chance to own possibly the largest parcel of native bush in private hands in Auckland has prompted huge enquiry from all sorts of people.

Backing onto Tuscany Downs, the gently undulating private park at the newly formed extension of Redoubt Rd in Manukau City has been owned by five generations of the Kimton family since about 1840. Its wide, open, green spaces, which make up about a quarter of the property, have been used as farmland to graze sheep and cattle. The mature native bush and forest glades that cover the rest are a spectacular reminder of the way Auckland used to look before Europeans started to slash and burn to make way for urban development.

Just about every kind of native forest tree in New Zealand can be found in this vast secluded pocket. To explore the many tracks criss-crossing through the copses is to enjoy New Zealand at its most beautiful. Majestic kauri rise up alongside kahikatea, totara and rewa rewa. And there are maire, matai, tanekaha, rata, puriri, punga ferns, titiko, karaka, nikau palms and stands of kanuka, of course.

Five varieties of white clematis clamber up through the canopy in spring and red-flowered rata trees put on a stunning seasonal display. Three streams converge in a peaceful lagoon in the valley to offer a peaceful natural habitat for wildlife. Bird song abounds as native tui, pigeons, kingfishers, fantails, grey warblers, moreporks, quails and pheasants are drawn to this ideal picnic environment.

The agent responsible for marketing this 63ha private park and ecological wonderland, Chris Venimore of Wrightson Real Estate, says he has had people from New Zealand and overseas talking to him about a variety of uses for the site.

Many want to retain it as a private park to preserve it for posterity. Venimore is keen on the park option and has forwarded an offer to Manukau City Council to consider it as a gift to the community.

Some have considered turning the land into a health resort or a retreat. A Korean gentleman would like to put a motel and restaurant on it, although Venimore doesn't think the land contour is level enough for something of that scale. Others are keen to take advantage of subdivision development possibilities.

Adjacent to the city boundary, the property - with a Rural 1 zoning - is currently subject to planning studies. A draft concept plan for countryside living prepared by Harrison Grierson, consulting engineers, surveyors and planners estimates that when submitted as a scheme plan in the next two to five years there could be about 25 residential sites on the property. Many of the proposed building sites offer splendid bush outlooks and access to walks through broad corridors between the trees.

In order to gain resource consent for development, the Kimtons have constructed a broad road with two lanes going in and out of the property, with four bridges over the streams. A track further along has been surveyed ready for roadworks with a drainage channel and culverts. Kimton has documentation to show that he will complete the road prior to settlement.

He will also install 680m of electrical cable from Tuscany Estates Stage 3 and lay telephone wires from the roundabout on the public road. If the property is not sold, Kimton will proceed with the ongoing development to subdivide.

Whatever the scale of development, this extraordinary property on the city fringe offers extraordinary prospects right on Auckland's doorstep.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Redoubt Rd, Manukau City.

FEATURES: Mixture of native forest and grazing land backing onto Stage 3 of Tuscany Downs; zoned Rural 1; subject to planning studies; Harrison Grierson estimates it will give more than 25 development sites; double-lane road into property; four bridges over streams; electrical cable and telephone wires installed; resource consents and reports available for inspection.

SIZE: 63ha.

AUCTION: 6pm, October 14.

AGENT: Chris Venimore, Wrightson Real Estate. Ph 09 904 8254 bus; 025 928 440 mob.