Rural-urban blend a winner

MARION VAN DIJK/The Nelson Mail

COUNTRY LIFESTYLE: Chris Edmonds with the Urban Design Award won by the Appleby Hills subdivision.

Relevant offers

A new residential housing project described by one of its developers as a "great place for an adventure" has scooped a prize at the Nelson Tasman Environment Awards.

About 200 people attended the awards ceremony at Woollaston Estates yesterday. Eighty-seven entries were narrowed down to nine category winners.

For the first time, there was an award for urban design, which went to the developers of the Appleby Hills subdivision.

One of the project directors, Chris Edmonds, said there were currently nine houses on the 73-hectare site, with a total of 63 being developed.

The goal of the subdivision was to create an urban residential environment that still felt rural to those living in and visiting the area, he said, and he paid tribute to landscape architect David Sissons for helping to fulfil that.

"The thing that is going on here is the good design of the land in the subdivision – the good design work around where the houses go makes a huge difference to the eventual outcome.

"You'll see a few houses and a roof – you won't be looking at a mass of housing, you won't be getting that normal urban environment."

The project had been eight years in the making.

Mr Edmonds said water for the properties was taken from a bore on site, and all wastewater was treated in its own facility.

There were low markers instead of intrusive lamp posts, and 7000 trees had been planted.

"There are great spaces, and great places for adventures, and great places for dog and kids and parents and elderly people to walk around and have a different kind of experience of urban living."

He said the award was testament to the hard work of a lot of people, including fellow developers Gina Boyd and Mike Brady – and, despite the odd issue, he was grateful to the Tasman District Council for its assistance.

"I just think it's recognition that we have done something good, we have done it well, and we have paid attention to some really important principles."

The awards also featured talks by John Palmer, the chairman of both Air New Zealand and Solid Energy, about what those companies are doing to reduce the impact of their activities on the planet; and Brittany Packer and Abby Ward, who will be representing New Zealand at the next round of climate change talks in Copenhagen.

There was also a screening of a video by Nelson film-maker Emma Heke, who has made a DVD and a television series about environmental issues for young children, which will screen soon. She was presented with a special achievement award.

The other winners were: rural, Aorere Catchment Group; best use of renewable energy, Nelson Pine Industries; commercial, Waimea Sawmillers Ltd/Gibbons Joinery Ltd; schools, Nayland Primary School; individuals and families, Mitchell Chandler; community and neighbourhood groups, Sherry River Catchment Group and Friends of Mapua; heritage (culture), Rocks and Hard Places: Takaka Hill by Cliff Turley; heritage (built), Warwick House.

- © Fairfax NZ News