Shaping communities: the importance of successful project development

Individual residential projects have many challenges to consider: how the section will be prepared for construction, establishing timelines, maintaining design briefs and budgets, liaising with regulatory authorities, and more.

The challenges only increase for large-scale projects.

Well versed in navigating the challenges involved with property development management in the public and private sectors, CPMC worked with numerous developers to shape the large areas of Scott Point precinct, to meet the needs of Hobsonville Point’s growing community.

One of the developments is now an elite subdivision perched atop the Hobsonville Peninsula, Scott Bay has 76 exclusive properties. Prior to this, though, there was plenty of work to do – including essential groundwork to ensure the land was fit for construction.

“The coastline is subject to significant erosion,” explains CPMC director, Martin Russell.

“Due to the geographic and coastal nature of Scott Bay, we had to resolve and overcome an array of challenging geotechnical aspects. Initially, instability and erosion of the cliff face bordering Scott Bay from the Waitemata Harbour greatly impacted the developable area of Scott Bay,” he says.

“To address this, we presented a solution that involved significant earthworks to support a mechanically stabilised earthen wall and a substantial rock revetment.”

This saw the installation of 796 deep soil mix columns, each at two metres wide, to prevent potential erosion of the coast. This was then built back up with a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall.

“Subsequently, all of the houses are now effectively sitting on a man-made cliff, perfectly stable with amazing views. The development was designed so that all those views can be shared,” says Martin. “As you come down the road, whether you’re living right on the coast or not, there's a park at the front which creates an opening, allowing everybody that drives into the development to enjoy a panoramic view of the coast.”

Another Hobsonville project that CPMC is currently engaged on is Captain’s Cove at 18 Scott Rd, a high end development with sea views and waterfront access. Both free-standing and terraced homes make up this new neighbourhood, with a total of 122 new homes.

CPMC also worked on another development just down the road at 10 Scott Rd – Scott Road Lane. With 105 residential lots subdivided within 4 hectares, the project began in 2020 and earthworks and civil works were completed in 2021.

CPMC’s services included assisting with the masterplan and development design, feasibility analysis, contract negotiation, procurement and project management throughout the construction and title stages.

Read now: Developing potential with a project management expert

With the entirety of the Scott Point peninsula deemed as a local network, CPMC was responsible for finding a solution for the wastewater that would eventually be servicing over 900 future properties in the development.

“This involved putting in a significant pump station on the coast – a pump station with a rising main that goes two kilometres back to the main network all along Scott Road. We were required to install the pump station on behalf of the client as part of an infrastructure share agreement with Watercare.

“Because of the significant challenges we faced with needing to design some of the infrastructure for the whole catchment, even though we were only developing for number 20, we ended up with a considerable amount of knowledge of the area and the challenges that the area faced,” adds Martin. “We also build relationships with council, for example, around some of the planning considerations that had to be made, such as the overlay precinct plan as well as the Unitary Plan.”

Having also been involved in the construction of some homes in the area, as well as the sales and marketing – gaining a strong understanding of land values along the way – more clients approached CPMC to manage the development of further projects in the area.

CPMC were subsequently engaged to work on the development of further sites in the Scott Point precinct which involved further extension of the local infrastructure.

“It included all of their wastewater catchment as well, which meant a very deep gravity sewer main,” says Martin. “There was about 1.2 kilometres of infrastructure that had to go in to support that.”

Another project being undertaken by CPMC that will service the wider Scott Point and Hobsonville Point communities is located on the corner of Hobsonville’s Scott Road and Clark Road.

It features a heritage building crafted from bricks manufactured in Limestone Bay at the time of construction.

“We’ve taken that site and we are converting it into a childcare centre for 120 kids. We’re putting an extension on it and we’ve been very careful to protect the heritage nature and the appearance of the building – we’re going to enhance that. The building is being brought back to life and repurposed.”

With strong knowledge of the market and experience in projects such as this, CPMC is proud to be supporting the growth of Hobsonville Point’s coastal community.

“Hobsonville is just one example of an area that we have helped to shape and grow over the past years. We have been involved in other large scale developments across the country,” says Martin.

Get in touch with CPMC to learn more about how the team can assist in project and development management.