New life beckons for popular lakefront land

A former lakeside camping ground and adjoining former forestry land suitable for a boutique waterfront subdivision have been placed on the market for sale by Carter Holt Harvey.

The 112 hectare site at Lake Ohakuri just north of Taupo was part of the original Kinleith Forest Estate. A narrow strip of land adjoining the lakeside land had been used as a camping ground since the l1970s but the amenity was closed in 2006.

Lake Ohakuri is the largest lake on the Waikato River - covering 12 square kilometres - and was created in 1961 with the building of the Lake Ohakuri hydro-electric dam. It is a popular camping and recreational area used for water-skiing, fishing, picnicking and duck shooting.

At its peak the Lake Ohakuri campground was very popular. The site has been landscaped – with thousands of tree stumps removed and grass sown, complementing the variety of mature trees around the lakefront area, creating a park-like feel.

Carter Holt Harvey said it had always been the company’s long-term strategy to unlock the potential of the property as a unique lakefront site. During the intervening period since campground closure and subsequent logging operations, the company had sought consent from Taupo District Council for the creation of ‘bach-like’ low intensity residential sites.

The development under the Lake Ohakuri Development Zone has been approved as part of the Taupo District Plan - with consent for up to 190 lots. The land holding allows for a variety of uses – such as lakeside residential sections, a lodge, or a small number of large-scale private retreats.

The site has been laid out to maximise the north-facing aspect of the bare land, utilising the lake and surrounding forest as a recreational resource for both passive and active uses.

The Lake Ohakuri property is being marketed through Bayleys Real Estate, with expressions of interest closing on February 23. Bayleys senior sales consultant Michael Pleciak said development sites under the Lake Ohakuri Development Zone ranged in size from 350 sq metres through to more than 4000 square metres – with the bulk of lots being in the 600 – 800 square metre range.

The Lake Ohakuri Development Zone allows some flexibility in the type and intensity of development allowed and could, for example, allow for development similar in concept to the popular Matarangi beach resort on the Coromandel.

Mr Pleciak said that as part of the planning application, great efforts had been taken to create and maintain the surrounding ‘forest’ environment in conjunction with the natural beauty of the lake itself.

“Any development under the Lake Ohakuri Development Zone would provide for an extensive public waterfront reserve. The zone could also see an extensive village green with community facilities being a feature of a development,” Mr Pleciak said.

He said that the Lake Ohakuri site benefited from being on a pivotal axis – three-and-a-half hours from Auckland, two-and-a-half hours from Tauranga, two-and-a-half hours from Napier, and 45 minutes drive from Rotorua.

Mr Pleciak said it was rare for such a development site of Lake Ohakuri’s size to come onto the market - as most of the waterfront real estate was either planted in maturing pine forest or was owned by private farms.

“As a result, the peace and seclusion which can be found at this site is a far cry from the busier resort locations found in the Taupo and Rotorua lakes district. Obviously this is one of the reasons why the campground was so popular.”