This is a big one and I am struggling to find renders etc. but I am planning on going out to the site and getting some pics. This one will be with us for a long time and it will be fun watching it grow :cheers:

Long Bay is Todd Property Group’s premier asset. Drawing on an unparalleled urban location with outstanding views and a close proximity to the waterfront and the Long Bay Regional Park. When completed the Long Bay community will be one of Auckland’s finest places to live. Long Bay is only 25mins from downtown Auckland. The Long Bay Community will be located on 160ha of premier land and will accommodate approximately 2000 dwellings and up to 5000 people. Todd Property Group will be developing the Long Bay Community over the next decade, and first homes are planned for sale in the Awaruku area, in 2013 to 2014.

The site as of 08 July 2012 .... lots of action and still no dedicated website ....

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7572280862_bebfecfd15_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572280862/)
08 JUL 12 14°C LONG BAY TOWN CENTRE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572280862/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7572281464_ae625ec022_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572281464/)
08 JUL 12 14°C LONG BAY TOWN CENTRE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572281464/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/7572282260_3c36f9d0af_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572282260/)
08 JUL 12 14°C LONG BAY TOWN CENTRE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572282260/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7572282970_8193e65194_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572282970/)
08 JUL 12 14°C LONG BAY TOWN CENTRE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572282970/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/7572283656_d103820d8c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572283656/)
08 JUL 12 14°C LONG BAY TOWN CENTRE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572283656/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

End of year target for new housing at Long Bay

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7572341470_2a363c732d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572341470/)
LONG BAY 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/7572341470/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr


Private developer Todd Property Group wants to have its first housing sections ready for sale towards the end of this year at its 160ha Long Bay development on Auckland's northern outskirts. An information office with a cafe will be the first building to rise at the site, which is 25km from the central business district. But instead of awarding most of the housing contracts to Fletcher Residential as it did at Stonefields, group chief executive Evan Davies said the business intends to strike contracts with many housing providers to put up the 2500 residences. Different housing is needed so a wider choice of house builder is appropriate, Davies said, although he envisages Fletcher Residential also being at Long Bay.

Driving through the residential area north from Torbay and dropping over the brow of the hill at Beach Rd down towards the entrance to the Long Bay Regional Park, the northern ridge is now covered in machinery, earthmovers, scrapers, cranes, diggers, roading equipment, pipes, infrastructure gear and trucks. Beach Rd marks the boundary where Auckland finishes. Houses run out right at Todd's boundary and for years those residents have enjoyed green vistas across farmland and wide open paddocks. That is all changing. Earthworks are on the south facing slopes below the Awaruku Ridge and Todd has completed three seasons, initially creating wetlands, then moving to the Awaruku face and now civil works, bringing infrastructure to the site.

Stephen Martin, Todd senior development manager, said these seasons traditionally ran in the drier months from October to April although Auckland Council had allowed an extension of this season until the end of July. That will allow Todd to contour land for stages one and two of the project, each around 3.5ha. Extensive civil earthworks are needed because the land has ridges and gullies and some steep gradients and Davies cites remediating geotechnical hazards as the main reason for big earthworks. Hick Bros Civil Construction are at the site and civil contractors Dempsey Wood have been active there. That business cited the steep terrain in the area bounded by the Awaruku Stream and Long Bay Reserve.

"Key aspects of the scope of works include 400,000 cubic metres of complex earthworks, shear-key construction, a 2ha stormwater detention pond and wetland," Dempsey Wood said. Shapes of roads are beginning to form and one section near the southern end has the first kerbing and roadside parking bays formed. Attempts have been made to minimise the effects of intensive new housing estates on the beachfront and regional park by creating a buffer between the public and private areas. In 2010, about 23ha of Todd land went into public reserves to form a green buffer when the former North Shore City Council reached agreement with the company for public ownership of 18.7ha zoned for protecting archaeological sites, as well as 4.6ha for parks. About 20m below ground, sewage pipes are being laid and the first of two bridges will be up soon.

Level areas are being contoured for many kilometres of roading and Todd is creating a new vehicle access to the Long Bay Regional Park and a pedestrian access to the back of Long Bay College. Water supply is also being upgraded. Todd is installing a new water main running about 3km from the site at Glenvale Rd because the area was under-served. Davies said planning for the big project began in about 1998 but work did not start until last year, showing the almost insurmountable difficulty of creating housing in a city desperate for more supply and with generations of future residents facing renting. Westpac's Dominick Stevens cited low interest rates and years of severe under-building as reasons why some Auckland houses were selling for double the capital valuation.

Davies agreed and said that Long Bay was an example of a project where environmental factors were put ahead of people's housing needs. No prices for the land or houses have been discussed yet but Davies says the smaller sections could be around 400sq m. Townhouses will face reserve areas. Davies said much of the outright opposition to any housing there "had dropped away and it's more now about folk trying to preserve as much open space as they can and their attention is more on the effects of the construction works". Last January, clay wash-off for the second time in a month raised fears for the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve when residents complained of a muddy stain over the waters of the reserve, adjacent to the regional park, although Todd spokesman Sifa Taumoepau said then there was no breach to sediment containment devices.

Martin has been on the site for six years, initially working there when former developer Greg Olliver planned the project. Davies began around the same time the Environment Court delivered its decision and so was not embroiled in Olliver's fight with the Auckland Regional Council and other organisations. North of the 160ha Long Bay project, Todd also owns 113ha of farmland, outside the existing metropolitan urban limits, at Okura. "This stunning land holding has a rural zoning and is made up of 26 separately titled lots," Todd said. "The value of the Todd Property Group Okura land holdings rests in its location. "Okura has an amazing coastal outlook to the Long Bay/Okura Marine reserve and the islands of Auckland's gulf in the east, bordering on the Okura Estuary in the north, and the new Long Bay Community in the south."

Developers fight to house citizens (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10836726)

Developer Evan Davies is behind Auckland's biggest housing push. But the battle took its toll and has left him disillusioned at times. As Todd Property Group chief executive, his team is putting up 5300 houses on two sites. Most advanced is Stonefields, Mt Wellington, an 110ha $2 billion development for 2600 houses/apartments accommodating 6500 people. Building is now starting at Long Bay on the North Shore where 2700 households are being created for about 7000 people. But Davies cites the controversial Long Bay project as an example of a development where environmental factors were put ahead of people's housing needs. The struggle to begin there showed precisely why the city is crying out for more housing, he says. Planning for the estate began in about 1998 but work did not start until last year, showing the almost insurmountable difficulty of creating housing in a city desperate for more supply and with generations of future residents facing renting, he claims ... MORE (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10836726)

Finance Minister Bill English knows the issues well.

"The prices you pay for a house are ridiculous and they look that way to 24-year-olds with lots of student debt and the prospect of better pay in Australia," he said.

And he must have noticed Long Bay, Stonefields and Hobsonville prices too.

"The most unfair aspect of it is that there's no housing being built for people in the lowest quartile of income. Like none," English said. "That is clearly unsustainable. If we want to get back to surplus and keep it there, we cannot afford to have the Government providing growing subsidies to a housing market that then flows into high levels of debt.

"That cycle does not make sense and we intend to break it."

Quite how English will achieve this is yet to be revealed.
Is English suggesting he is starting to grasp that building sprawl like at Long Bay is in effect a subsidy to developers due to all of the council and government money that needs to be spent on infrastructure to make it happen? If so then there is hope yet.

I hope the Unitary Plan will take care of some of the issues around providing more affordable housing i.e. better and more intensification (especially around transport nodes), removal of requirements that use up (expensive) land etc

Sad to see another suburban development near one of the finest regional parks in Auckland and a marine reserve. :(

An ugly, car dependant suburban development at that.

This is nothing compared to what's going ahead or planned in Ormiston, Karaka and Massey/West gate.

At least the former Auckland Regional Council managed to fight off more of this area being developed. Too bad the old MUL has been replaced by a less resilient RUB.

Of course it's suburban, it's on the edge of the Shore.

It was rural before the land was carved up for yet another suburban development. Long Bay is such a special place and I can imagine a great amount of sedimentation :(

I dunno, I don't see anything inherently special about it. This is just a natural continuation of the Bays

I dunno, I don't see anything inherently special about it. This is just a natural continuation of the Bays

Yeah, with that attitude we might as well sprawl all the way to Omaha. Nothing special about the environment there either.

Yeah, with that attitude we might as well sprawl all the way to Omaha. Nothing special about the environment there either.

good point

Yeah, with that attitude we might as well sprawl all the way to Omaha. Nothing special about the environment there either.


It's taken what, 30 or 40 years to move from Torbay to Long Bay. Might take a while to get to Omaha.

Talk about completely missing the point...

^^:lol::lol::lol:

I am all for these kind of "village suburbs" where you get hiking/cycling trails, amazing landscaped parks with children's playgrounds, a modern town centre, a choice of finishes, different housing styles, well-connected public transport and close to the sea .... such as Hobsonville Point. I have seen plans for the Long Bay Town Centre and it is going to be lovely. What sets Long Bay apart from Hobsonville Point is the fact that it is located at a lovely beach and the nudie beach is a 10 minute walk away :colgate:

I think the problem with them lies in attempting to make them well connected to public transport that is convenient for all who live there. It's very difficult to get cost-effective public transport to spread out village environments. I agree with a lot of the points you make from a design perspective (hiking/cycling trails, parks, playgrounds, modern town centre, different styles of building), but this can happen with proper TOD too with apartments (low rise to midrise), terraced housing and even semi-detached housing around a planned high-quality, walkable town centre and proper, high quality and frequent PT that requires minimal stops due to the compact nature of the development.

I think the problem with them lies in attempting to make them well connected to public transport that is convenient for all who live there. It's very difficult to get cost-effective public transport to spread out village environments. I agree with a lot of the points you make from a design perspective (hiking/cycling trails, parks, playgrounds, modern town centre, different styles of building), but this can happen with proper TOD too with apartments (low rise to midrise), terraced housing and even semi-detached housing around a planned high-quality, walkable town centre and proper, high quality and frequent PT that requires minimal stops due to the compact nature of the development.

Hobsonville Point has the ferry option which makes more attractive as well, I do hope that they consider a ferry option for Long Bay one day :) I also forgot to add that I went to HP not so long ago and it is shaping up to be very dense - tightly compacted and feels more like an inner-city street than a suburban street - another factor that I love :)

Hobsonville Point has the ferry option which makes more attractive as well, I do hope that they consider a ferry option for Long Bay one day :) I also forgot to add that I went to HP not so long ago and it is shaping up to be very dense - tightly compacted and feels more like an inner-city street than a suburban street - another factor that I love :)

Well, that's good to hear about HP - have you posted photos? I don't remember seeing them (but I do find it hard to keep up with all the updates as you do an excellent job here). Is HP more "grid-like" than cul-de-sac then?

Well, that's good to hear about HP - have you posted photos? I don't remember seeing them (but I do find it hard to keep up with all the updates as you do an excellent job here). Is HP more "grid-like" than cul-de-sac then?

Thanks Svarty :hug: I never took any pics - it is hard to explain, it is like little villages within a village but the street pattern is grid-like with a mix of apartments, semi's and tightly compacted stand-alone houses - not one is the same :cheers:

I added some new pics of Hobsonville to that thread, taken a few weeks ago.

Auckland is finally overcoming Leaky Building Syndrome!
Developments like Long Bay, Ormiston, Stonefields and Hobsonville are increasing densities with predominantly duplex and terrace products going in now. Stonefields has shown that the market has come around to terrace houses (with quality public landscaping) and that these are also very profitable for the developers.
The price of apartments is still too high, we lack integrated transport, and there hasn't yet been a true mixed-use core at the heart of a large development. (Ormiston will be the test). Long Bay is a quality contemporary design but nothing ground-breaking. Given the planning process began a decade ago, perhaps we can't move the goalposts too far, too often.

Talk about completely missing the point...

Please, feel free to clarify

Long Bay project claims first sales (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10845852)

Todd Property Group has conditionally sold the first 14 sections at its 160ha Long Bay housing estate, the country's largest new greenfields residential project. Evan Davies, chief executive, said group house builders had paid deposits on the land where they would put up show homes. Section sales would settle once titles were issued. He anticipated builders would have consents by early next year and start building what Todd calls a "parade of homes" by around February. Stephen Martin, Todd senior development manager, said those sections sold for an average of $450,000 and Davies makes no bones about developing upmarket housing on the expensive land where 2500 houses are planned. At Long Bay, above the regional park, Todd is not answering the call for affordable housing partly, Davies said, because the company could only build on 60ha of the 160ha site. The rest of the land is being laid with roads - some up to 24m wide - parks, reserves, open space, buffer zones, stormwater treatment areas, wetlands and landscaped zones ... MORE (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10845852)

Lots of hard work going on here.......

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8174274082_232236b7bb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174274082/)
Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174274082/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174274212/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174242097/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174274846/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174275238/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174242777/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174275796/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174243491/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174276286/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174276526/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174276764/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174244345/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174244609/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174277330/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174245623/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174247501/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174280484/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174281888/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174249519/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174282496/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174282848/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174250887/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174283668/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174285514/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174254455/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174287766/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174288208/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174256423/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174256753/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174257529/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174257977/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174258423/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174291316/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8174277330_1096177c72_b.jpg[/url]
Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174277330/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

WTH is this supposed to be, with those fences on the side it looks a bit like a toll booth, perhaps a way to make the residents feel special and exclusive.

^^

I think it is just a gateway installation - there are no gates or booths as part of it - so merely symbolic?

Mmm... didn't even notice it - first thing I noticed were the cycle lanes and lack of on-street parking. :)

^^

I think it is just a gateway installation - there are no gates or booths as part of it - so merely symbolic?

Yeah I gathered it was just an artistic piece but the symbolism is that it is an exclusive area

Mmm... didn't even notice it - first thing I noticed were the cycle lanes and lack of on-street parking. :)

There is on street parking higher up - and quite a bit of it too

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8174282848_9d9f96e4cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174282848/)
Long Bay Town Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8174282848/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Yeah I gathered it was just an artistic piece but the symbolism is that it is an exclusive area

I think each person will read into the symbol whatever they wish to......

That ''symbol'' reminds me of that timber used on one of the restaurants down at the Wynyard 1/4
.. maybe its so big buses and or trucks can't enter that area? i dunno..

The kind of on-street parking I meant is parking on the road on the left-most lane, not in parking bays as pictured above. These parking bays mean the cycle lane still runs continuously and uninterrupted which I see as a good thing.

I am so glad to see that there is an emphasis on design at all these new town centres and not just functionality :cheers:

This is the showroom, there is a huge model of the development inside but it was all locked up :(

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8174192581_8eee2dd23d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174192581/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174192581/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8174225260_d9da6e0d9f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174225260/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174225260/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8174193595_dbd6ed754b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193595/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193595/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

I presume that this is the main road in and out and I think that there will be one other road further up ....

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8174193295_c36580fd5a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193295/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193295/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

Some of the homes are going to have great views and direct links to the beach, as well as the nudie beach :colgate:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8174193951_3b0cecdc72_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193951/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174193951/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

The infrastructure and landscaping is fantastic ...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8174194243_d089dab1b4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174194243/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174194243/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8174194867_92490526e0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174194867/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174194867/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8174227748_16d77c28e5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174227748/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174227748/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

To continue .....

Is the plan to have street activation? Or will it be in the Albany/Botany Downs model that has proven so successful?

Is the plan to have street activation? Or will it be in the Albany/Botany Downs model that has proven so successful?

I would hope so, from a plan that I once saw it looked as if it was all open to the street and the town centre looked interesting. I am sure that their website will be launched soon - well, let's hope so. There is nothing worse than not knowing what to expect :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8174195925_2915a75676_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174195925/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174195925/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8174196229_586670f702_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174196229/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174196229/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8174228704_7b784cff1e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174228704/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174228704/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8174229078_54aa040009_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174229078/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174229078/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8174229510_6afec9f32f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174229510/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174229510/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8174197809_6494d4e42d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174197809/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174197809/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8174230482_0b584fccab_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174230482/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174230482/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

To be continued ....

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8174230730_9fd9eb9464_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174230730/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174230730/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8174199077_8a3f190abb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199077/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199077/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8174199369_cb58bb4615_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199369/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199369/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8174199729_f10b0bf2e3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199729/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174199729/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8174200109_4763deaa0a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174200109/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174200109/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

^^ In that last picture, I really like the attention to detail that I see in the landscaping. Only one little nit-pick would be to include more pedestrian crossings to improve pedestrian flow.

^^ In that last picture, I really like the attention to detail that I see in the landscaping. Only one little nit-pick would be to include more pedestrian crossings to improve pedestrian flow.

and actual pedestrian crossings where pedestrians have priority not that favourite of NZ traffic management the run and hide pedestrian refuge that is shown in the images above. The only extra cost would be a pot of white paint so why isn't it being done?

and actual pedestrian crossings where pedestrians have priority not that favourite of NZ traffic management the run and hide pedestrian refuge that is shown in the images above. The only extra cost would be a pot of white paint so why isn't it being done?

I couldn't agree more :cheers:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8174232374_d38c09103c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174232374/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174232374/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8174200781_f1e1852b86_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174200781/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174200781/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8174201243_4a5a0d6705_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174201243/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174201243/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8174201499_94a061861e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174201499/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174201499/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8174233998_113f1fc53e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174233998/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174233998/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8174234290_be6cc467d9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174234290/)
10 NOV 12 19°C LONG BAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8174234290/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

Long Bay opens to the public tomorrow - here's your chance to view the model and find out about the commercial side of things :)

Long Bay offers options (http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/8029095/Long-Bay-offers-options)

The population of Long Bay will boom over the next 10 years as 2500 families move into the new Long Bay development. Earthworks for the first of the development's 18 stages were recently completed and opened to the public. The sections in stage one of the development have all been sold for an average of $450,000. Todd Property is developing the site and managing director Evan Davies says there is a requirement for more houses in New Zealand and the Long Bay development is clearly providing more. "We're playing our part in that way. We're not really in a circumstance to provide so-called affordable housing, but we will provide a diversity of housing types in a spectacular natural environment." The development will include areas of low, medium and high density housing. Mr Davies says there was an encouraging turnout over the first open weekend. "The overall response has been extremely positive." The project was originally challenged in the Environment Court and Mr Davies says because of the scrutiny the development was under it was "terrifically important we responsibly reflected those concerns". Sustainability was a key focus for the development, which will feature garden streets with dense planting and every property will be within 400 metres of a park, he says. Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chairwoman Julia Parfitt and East Coast Bays MP Murray McCully spoke at the opening of the development and acknowledged the scale of the project and the importance of community and relationships. The 162-hectare Long Bay development will eventually be made up of 2500 houses built around a town centre with a medium-sized supermarket, cafes and some small shops. The first residents are expected to move in late next year.

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8250820703_07989a28fd_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8250820703/)
Long Bay 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8250820703/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8250821289_f09e4e20e1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8250821289/)
Long Bay (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/8250821289/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

You've got to love Long Bay - if there was a ferry from there to town I would consider living here, I envy their links with the beach (especially the nudie beach ;) ) and the regional park ...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8257347360_9d1fbc3ea1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257347360/)
22 NOV 12 22°C LONG BAY (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257347360/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8257347152_d971831c8a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257347152/)
22 NOV 12 22°C LONG BAY (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257347152/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8256276721_b4d526a61a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8256276721/)
22 NOV 12 22°C LONG BAY (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8256276721/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8257343416_b8551a6171_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257343416/)
22 NOV 12 22°C LONG BAY (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8257343416/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

We took a drive though yesterday on our way to the nudie beach - every lot we drove past bar two had sold signs on them.

_BwEt0byXw0

Paradise in the making - for the rich (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10857058)

One of Auckland's few large-scale housing developments, at Long Bay, is exactly the type of model the Auckland Council does not want - expensive houses on large sections gobbling up prime land. This time next year, residents will have moved into the first three-bedroom, stand-alone houses costing at least $700,000, backing on to Long Bay beach and regional park. The park's facilities have struggled to cope this summer with up to 25,000 visitors a day during the holiday season. Police have been called in to manage a "one out, one in" traffic system after the 4000 carparks fill by mid-morning on sunny days. When the Herald visited this week some motorists had queued for two hours to get a park and more than 270 vehicles were lined up to enter the park, blocking local streets. The size of the sections at the new development are typically about 500sq m for the first stage, with the largest section 936sq m. Three sites are reserved for terraced housing. When the 67ha of housing at Long Bay, just inside the city's urban limit, is complete in more than 10 years, there will be about 2000 properties housing up to 6000 people. This is the density of a traditional suburb, nowhere near the kind of density envisaged in the Auckland Plan, the city's blueprint to accommodate an extra 1.2 million people over the next 30 years ... MORE (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10857058)

Contrary to popular belief, the development has actually added 19 hectares of prime coastal land to Long Bay Regional Park. The onsite cafe is very popular and was packed yesterday, just goes to show that the area is crying out for something more glamorous than that sad beachfront cafe (Auckland Council should offer the same people that own Takapuna Beach Cafe an incentive to run the beachfront cafe). I can't wait to see what is planned for the village centre (to be built in 2015), Torbay Village Centre is vile and I would much rather stop by here on my way to the nudie beach :cheers: I also like the mix of terrace housing and stand-alone housing.

Oh, the website is up and running ... www.longbay.co.nz

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8371498838_595cd291d1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371498838/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371498838/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8371500654_b63b40e5f8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371500654/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN 5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371500654/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8370433481_87e794e9eb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370433481/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN 6 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370433481/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8371500270_3099d75ba1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371500270/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN 4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8371500270/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8370432321_3c4d69af26_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370432321/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN 3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370432321/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8370431843_f0a0b33c64_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370431843/)
LONG BAY MASTERPLAN 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeonauckland/8370431843/) by Urban+Explorer (http://www.flickr.com/people/eyeonauckland/), on Flickr

Here is a flyover video of the model which is situated at the Long Bay Cafe in the development. This is a HUGE development. The lots with model houses on them in the video is the area you can see from the road - the rest is all behind the ridge which has no public access as yet.

idj77Ww0QoQ

Work begins on Long Bay housing development (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10883832)

Work has begun on the first of 2000 new homes being built at Long Bay on Auckland's North Shore. When completed, the 162ha housing development, which links to Long Bay Regional Park, will be home to more than 5000 people, with the first residents expected to move in by December. Auckland Mayor Len Brown used a digger to break ground for the first of the homes today. "Auckland Council is focused on delivering the houses that Auckland needs. Long Bay is one of our region's largest developments and is set to become a thriving community," he said. "We're working closely with communities, the Government and the private sector on where new developments should occur and how they can be built. Auckland faces a shortage of houses and we need to find ways of building them in a much faster timeframe." The properties will not answer Auckland's call for cheaper housing, with developer Todd Property Group estimating they will go for between $750,000 and upwards of $1 million ... MORE (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10883832)

Price of paradise (http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/8709066/Price-of-paradise)

The long-awaited Long Bay development isn't going to solve Auckland's housing affordability crisis. But breath-taking views over Long Bay Regional Park mean many properties will reach $1 million-plus prices. Even terraced housing is expected to start at $800,000. Mayor Len Brown turned the sod on the subdivision's first house this month. Mr Brown says Auckland's diverse population means affordability has different definitions depending where you are. "Auckland Council is focused on delivering the houses that Auckland needs. Long Bay is one of our region's largest developments and is set to become a thriving community." The average North Shore house sells for $730,000, a 12.7 per cent increase in 12 months, latest Quotable Valuation figures show. Developer Todd Property Group expects a community of more than 5000 people will live on the 165-hectare site with more than 2000 homes. The first residents are expected to move in by Christmas ... MORE (http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/8709066/Price-of-paradise)