North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams and Todd Property Group Managing Director, Evan Davies yesterday turned the first sod to mark the start of earthworks on land in Long Bay, the beginning of a plan for a new residential community in the area.

The Council recently granted a consent to Long Bay Communities Limited (part of the Todd Property Group) for preliminary earthworks in the area. The consent falls in line with the Council's Long Bay Structure Plan, which will see works on 4.1 hectares of land on the southern side of Awaruku Stream, between Beach Road and the Long Bay Regional Park.

The consented works are part of a larger application, which is still being processed by Council.

Mayor Williams says the sod turning event marked the beginning of what will potentially be an extremely significant project for the North Shore, with the planned new residential area accommodating approximately 6000 people, or 2500 houses.

"I congratulate the Todd Property Group on the beginning of this project. The development will have a significant impact on the Long Bay skyline and will develop North Shore City towards the Hibiscus Coast area.

"It is pleasing to see that this residential development plan incorporates measures to protect our important environmental and landscape features in this area including our streams and coastal and park boundaries. There is also a high priority placed on managing the environment in the area through the installation of water retention tanks and specialised stormwater management controls," says Mayor Williams.

Todd Property Group Managing Director, Evan Davies says the dawn blessing and turning of the sod yesterday was significant as it marked the start of an exciting future for the development of a living community in Long Bay.

"Projects of this importance can only be achieved through partnerships and the co-operation and involvement of a range of organisations and individuals, as such I wish to acknowledge the contributions of members of the community, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Paoa, the Mayor, councillors and staff who have been involved in this project.

"Together we will make Long Bay a wonderful place to live," says Mr Davies.

The Awaruku wetland will be the first area developed, to provide essential stormwater capacity to existing development in Torbay and some of the new housing in Long Bay. This wetland is to reduce flooding risks over adjacent residential properties where flooding is currently a problem. The earthworks will also form an embankment to support the future extension of Beach Road across the Awaruku Flats.

The works are in accordance with the interim decision of the Environment Court, issued in July 2008, and the land use strategy, developed in consultation with the parties to the structure plan, including Long Bay - Okura Great Park Society and Long Bay Communities Limited.

The full earthworks programme is hoped to begin in October this year, pending the granting of resource consents.