iLine Construction have the task of giving Katikati’s Heron Crescent elder housing a makeover.

The Mount Maunganui-based company have been awarded the design and build contract for Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s 26-unit purpose-built redevelopment.

“We’re thrilled to team up with iLine to see this development progress to the next stage to support our community’s needs to look after our elderly,” says Council team leader property, Nigel Sadlier.

“With the need increasing, and supply limited, affordable housing for older people is a key area of concern in our District.

“The team has ticked off a lot of work this year to get the site ‘build ready’, which will start early in 2024.

“The foundational site works are complete, including the retaining walls and new fencing.

“The new public path between Heron Crescent and Diggelmann Park is open, and underneath is the new stormwater mains,” says Nigel.

Once finished, the 26-unit development will see 15 additional units and the replacement of the 11 existing 40-year-old units that have been removed from the site, providing modern, accessible, and affordable rental housing for Katikati’s elder community.

The development’s design comprises of three two-storey blocks:

• Block 1 – 10 one-bedroom units, with five units on each floor
• Block 2 – 12 one-bedroom units, with six units on each floor
• Block 3 – Four two-bedroom, two-storey town houses.

“For iLine Construction, being awarded the contract of this redevelopment is not merely a project, it’s a commitment to collaborate closely with council to provide essential and sustainable housing for the community,” says iLine Construction’s pre-construction manager, Tony Watson.

“Our local expertise, gained from successful projects in the Western Bay and surrounding areas, such as the Te Puna Commercial Sector and the Te Paeroa Road Apartments in Bethlehem, positions us well to understand and cater to the specific requirements for this redevelopment.”

The project is fully funded through the Better Off Fund and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s Affordable Housing Fund, which will see Council provide a mix of one and two-bedroom units that also cater for those with mobility issues - at no cost to ratepayers.

For more information and progress photos, visit our elder housing page.