Rural property ripe for a change of use

The freehold property is close to the racetrack and indicated by the blue border. Photo / Supplied

A rural Waikato property right next to the Hampton Downs race track and within minutes of the growing Te Kauwhata residential community, has been put on the market.

"This property offers buyers a broad range of options," says James Appleby of Colliers International who, with colleague Cherry Higginson; and Alan Pracy of Colliers' Hamilton office, is selling 61 and 61A Hampton Downs Rd by deadline private treaty closing December 14, unless sold earlier by negotiation.

"The 53.8ha freehold property is located almost midway between Auckland and Hamilton," Appleby says.

"This is a significant opportunity for agricultural users to own and occupy their first farm, or expand their existing rural landholding.

"Split across five freehold titles, the property has potential for subdivision into smaller farms or lifestyle blocks.

"With 2600 homes scheduled to be built in nearby Te Kauwhata, it is also an opportunity for land-bankers to acquire a strategically-located rural site with a view to a future change of use."

Appleby says the property is ideally positioned within the North Island's so-called geographical 'Golden Triangle' of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.

"The property is in the heart of the rural township of Hampton Downs, close to the Government-supported Te Kauwhata residential development," he says.

"It directly neighbours the popular Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, making this an ideal opportunity for rural dwellers with a passion for the race track.

"Close by is the interchange with the Waikato Expressway — a safer, more efficient stretch of the existing State Highway 1 connection that will significantly reduce travel times between Auckland and Hamilton once fully completed.

"Hamilton is only 55km to the south and Auckland's CBD 68km to the north."

Higginson says the neighbouring Hampton Downs Motorsport Park comprises a purpose-built race track with an integrated industrial business park and live-work housing.

"The 450ha development includes a motor lodge, lifestyle blocks, 80 trackside apartments and a convention centre," she says.

"It will also soon include a 68-room, four-star hotel, which the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park estimates will attract more than 100,000 potential customers.

"The park itself offers three different track configurations as well as two different skidpan areas — one for driver training and the other for drifting,

"It also has a special SUV course and a go-kart track with two track configurations."

Pracy says the property, which is being used as a dry stock farm, has a number of sheds and reasonable fencing throughout.

"Like most of the Waikato District, the property is zoned for Rural use," he says.

"This zoning allows for traditional agricultural uses, such as extensive dairy and sheep farming, as well as horticulture, with rural residential lifestyle lots interspersed."

Pracy says the zoning rules seek to maintain land for productive rural activities, and manage activities so that the effects of traditional farming can be accommodated alongside existing lifestyle blocks. It also aims to provide a level of lifestyle choice, and to preserve landscape and ecological values.