Making sure that all people are well housed throughout the different stages of life is a key focus in Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s refreshed Housing Action Plan 2024.

The plan updates Council’s Housing Action Plan 2018 and sets out ways Council can have a bigger influence on improving the housing situation in the rohe.

It takes a ‘place-based’ approach, focusing on the unique needs and opportunities in different neighbourhoods.

“Addressing the housing gap is a critical issue facing the Western Bay. Our rohe does not have enough affordable housing, smaller houses for single people or couples, or houses where multi-generations can live,” says Council Chief Executive John Holyoake.

“Housing projects can take a long time to come to fruition, so we need to be consistent in our vision. The Housing Action Plan outlines both our strategies and how we need to work together with other stakeholders to achieve this vision.”

Homes that are affordable, accessible, secure, livable, and appropriate to our life stages and differing needs, are important for a community’s wellbeing, but a healthy housing supply also has economic impacts, says John.

“To grow productivity, we need more people, and people need places to live.”

The latest Census data shows the Western Bay of Plenty District is now home to 56,184 people living in 24,096 homes.

"Our District has grown by around 5000 people in the last five years, as we continue to be one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. This growth highlights the pressing need to expand our housing options and ensure everyone, from young families to retirees, has access to suitable housing.”

Council’s role is to facilitate local housing strategies and action plans, provide opportunities for new housing (through land use zoning, streamlining the consent process, building infrastructure and accessing Government funding) and to deliver specific housing projects that align with community needs, such as elder housing, he explains.

A close eye also needs to be kept on what is happening with housing policy nationally, including direction from central government, new housing delivery models being developed and ways to bring those to the sub-region.

“It’s a complex issue, and there is no quick fix. But over the past five years we have made good progress,” says John.

“We’ll continue to work towards building a sustainable and inclusive housing network that meets the diverse needs of our people."

Some examples of the mahi Council has done in the housing space over the past five years are:

• Consented private developments on new subdivisions across the District, which are projected to bring more than 2100 homes to market over the coming years.
• New or upgraded infrastructure is key to enabling housing development. The Ōmokoroa Stage 3 development includes transportation ($168m) and three-waters ($42m) over the next 10 years. For Te Puke’s population to grow, projects such as upgrading the wastewater treatment plant ($60m) are required.
• Kaimai Views, Ōmokoroa, is an affordable housing partnership between Classic Group and Council, with an agreement that half of the homes (121) were sold below the median house price.
• In 2022, Council reduced the development costs of community housing and Papakāinga. Projects to benefit from this include Accessible Properties Limited’s 13-unit development in Seddon Street, Te Puke, and Evergreen House, an affordable rental development, also in Te Puke.
• New housing density rules – Plan Change 92 - have been introduced to Te Puke and Ōmokoroa to enable growth and create a wider range of housing options.
• Council is building 26 new elder housing rental homes at Heron Crescent, Katikati – this includes 15 additional units and the replacement of 11 exiting 40-year-old units.
• Council continues to support the healthy homes programme, 20 Degrees, which helps low-income households achieve warmer, drier homes.