Kingston opening up

Kingston Village will occupy this land south of the existing lakeside township. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Low section prices in first stage of new 750-lot subdivision

With sections from $299,000, huge interest is expected in the first section release for a subdivision immediately south of Kingston township.

Kingston Village is ultimately zoned for about 750 houses, but developer Kingston Village Ltd (KVL) is kicking off with 25 sections, off Oxford St, with registrations of interest opening this coming Monday.

The initial price point — about half what you’d expect up the lake in Queenstown — will make it attractive for first-home buyers.

But KVL general manager Dale Farnham’s also expecting a range of buyers including downsizers and families, with section sizes ranging from 360 square metres to a generous 1000sqm.

These first-stage sections will formally come to the market, via real estate agency Bayleys, in early autumn, with titles expected in 2026.

Civil works will also start in autumn after entrance landscaping is completed off State Highway 6.

"We’re very excited to finally be putting the development onthe market and getting thingsready," Farnham says.

"I think the timing’s right — we’ve been working on this development for a long time, and things have just come together for us."

KVL — owned by Goodman brothers Patrick, Greg and Craig, whose dad, the late Sir Patrick Goodman, was a renowned food industrialist — first had a plan change approved 15 years ago, then more recently concluded a development agreement with the council.

As a result the council’s begun infrastructure works in the existing Kingston township, towards the KVL boundary, starting with a bulk water supply main along Kent St.

Ultimately, the new water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure will cater for 1200 dwellings — 250 existing Kingston homes, 200 infill homes and Kingston Village’s 750 homes.

The upgrade’s part-funded by a $36million interest-free loan from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The developer’s found Kingston during the goldrush era was a busy shipping town with, at its height, 10 hotels, two banks, a police station, a butcher’s shop and several stores.

"While we’re unable to promise 10 hotels, our goal is for the existing township to flourish and grow alongside the new, with full access to all the services Kingston Village will offer including provision for a new primary school, a commercial centre, new parks and playing fields," Farnham says.

He adds there’ll be multiple connection points between Kingston Village and the existing township and lakefront including pathways, cycleways and green spaces.

Regarding the commercial centre, ‘the people need to arrive first".

However, Farnham says, "there may be some underpinning of that centre to get it going".

"We’re going through the planning issues with that at the moment."

Depending on sales, he expects the next stage will be released in the later part of next year.

"We’re keen to develop as quickly as possible."

In terms of the sell-down, he expects it’ll be in the five- to 10-year range.

Nicole Tristram, KVL’s local senior development manager, comments: "Our vision is to create a community where everyone can enjoy a lakeside lifestyle without compromising on space or affordability."

"This is a new chapter for Kingston," Farnham says.

"There’s a lot of positives for the local community."