Location: Ocean Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

The Ocean Beach Settlement Plan seeks to resolve pressing issues confronting the Hastings’ District Council, the local Maori, and landowners led by Hill Country Development, along approximately 8 kilometers of coastline in the Bay of Plenty.  In a joint venture, Hill Country and Hastings District Council approached the firm to prepare a master plan to address safe access, growth, natural preservation, and beach replenishment.  The process required significant community consultation and together with Roberts Day a 12 day charrette was held in a woolshed on site renovated specifically to serve as a design studio and meeting place.  Over 1,200 people attended the event.  The master plan represents the outcome based on numerous meetings with residents, the Maori and consultants who assisted in determining the development “potential” of the site.

The “potential” for human settlement at Ocean Beach was guided by the principles and techniques of sustainable, neo-traditional community planning.  Once a footprint was defined based on the environment, ownership, citizen’s concerns, and development issues, these planning principles were applies to create authentic communities in the form of villages and hamlets.  The compact, walkable nature of these communities allowed over 90% of the study area to remain undeveloped, permitting the replenishment and restoration of natural systems that are in steep decline across the balance of the property.

Within the limited area set aside for community development the plans were still able to accommodate approximately 800 units of mixed housing within the two villages and one hamlet.  In addition to the housing, a school site, recreational fields, village hall, shops and restaurants, a new surf club, up to 3 hotels, and much needed parking are proposed, all in a walkable, pedestrian friendly environment.  Just as the natural environment can be made sustainable by caring for and delineating its ecosystems, so too can the human environment, by providing sufficient density and diversity.