Progress is underway at Wanaka’s Hikuwai development, after a long hiatus.

The 39 hectare Hikuwai subdivision neighbours Northlake to the west and borders Aubrey Road.

Exclusive Developments Ltd director Lee Brown, who bought the land in 2016, said it had been a long process.

“It’s nice to see young families get in there and build their first homes,” he said.

Titles were issued for the first three stages of the development in April and construction has begun on many of the 70 or so sites. 

Queenstown Lakes District Council confirmed it was currently processing a consent for the next stage of the development. Lee said stages four and five, the next on the list, will include 25 sites.

Another 25 sections are planned for stages four and five.

“I hope we will have titles by mid next year,” he said.

Lee estimated at least 98 per cent of the buyers are locals, and the majority are first home owners. The buyers came from “across the board, from school teachers to auto sparkies,” he said.

Lee said he was pleased with the feedback, adding “the extra planting and fruit trees on the reserve make for a beautiful place to live”.

The majority of Hikuwai sections have been bought by first time buyers, the developer estimated.

The subdivision offers section sizes mostly around 500-600sqm. The land has panoramic views over the Hikuwai Reserve, and the subdivision plans include bike tracks, natural wetlands, reserves and gardens.

In 2018 the subdivision was suspected of contributing to stormwater overflows which discharged contaminants into the Clutha River/Mata-Au, but the following year the Otago Regional Council prosecuted Northlake Investments and Civil Construction Limited. The silt and sediment-laden water generated by earthworks was conveyed to the river by a natural flowpath, which ran across Hikuwai land. 

PHOTOS: Wanaka App