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Three-hundred new homes will be built on Auckland's Point England Reserve to help address the city's housing crisis.Housing Minister Nick Smith on Tuesday said 12 hectares would be developed into affordable and social housing properties in partnership with the Tamaki Redevelopment Company.
It's the ninth site as part of the Government's Crown land development programme addressing the "very significant housing need across the city", Smith said.
Point England Reserve is the largest tract of public open space on the Tamaki River foreshore.
The land had, for many decades, being used for livestock.
"Frankly we cannot have land with 12 kilometres of the CBD of Auckland grazing cows when we have the high level of housing need.
"At the core of the housing challenge is in terms of getting access to good quality land," Smith said.
Smith will introduce legislation in parliament on Wednesday to allow the development to proceed.
Construction is expected to begin by 2017/2018.
Smith said the project would also allow for the opportunity to upgrade and invest in local sporting facilities and other amenities.
Auckland Council and the Tamaki Redevelopment Company are working on an Open Space Network Plan for the local area.
It involves the redevelopment of existing parks to meet the future needs of the community, including at Point England Reserve.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Sam Lotu-Iiga said the new development would provide warm, dry housing and it's about putting families in homes, education and jobs.
"The diverse nature of this community will prosper through this partnership.
"It's a community we can all be proud of."
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