Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely! The Canals Management company sets rules and regulations in order to maintain a pristine water environment. In addition, our resource consents require regular water testing, and have consistently resulted in high-quality order, perfect for swimming!
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The cost of maintaining and managing the Waterways falls with the property owner/beneficiaries of the canal network. Whitianga Canal Management Limited provide management functions such as; admin, canal maintenance and monitoring, setting rules and regulations, health and safety matters, and more.
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There is no Body Corporate as such, but the function of the Whitianga Canal Management Company manages the activity and ownership of the Waterways canal network. Waterfront property owners or those property owners whom have access to the canal via a boat ramp (or similar arrangement) you are liable to pay an annual levy, and may occur additional costs to maintain any structures that sit within the property mooring envelop.
The levy amount is determined by a formula that is calculated on the length of the mooring envelop, any structures (pontoons) within the mooring, and/or access to any additional facilities or services.
For a full breakdown of this cost structure, get in touch with our team today. -
The Whitianga Canals Management Company is a charitable entity and therefore does not make a profit. It takes the budgeted expenditure for the year ahead and divides the costs across all waterways properties owners that have access to the canals.
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Building covenants are in place to maintain a high standard of quality across the development, giving property owners confidence in their investment and the long-term value of the community. While these covenants ensure consistency, they are not overly restrictive — offering flexibility for owners and their architects to design homes that reflect their own style.
Requirements can vary between stages, and we encourage you to request the relevant covenants from our sales team before submitting house plans. Landscaping is also an important part of the process, with landscape plans required to be signed off to help preserve the overall look and feel of the development.
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We make every effort to help people when it comes to smoothing out the building process. Staff are on hand to direct you in the right direction with home and jetty design or any other queries. We have readily available documentation that will assist in home designs such as geotech reports, building covenants, LT plans, and more.
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As part of the covenants, we require the grass to be kept to less than 100mm high. This ensures the neighbourhood looks attractive always. If needed, we can provide lawnmower contractors details if required.
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Properties within Waterways North are excellent value, offering a serene location and great boating access for trailer boats and smaller launches. Vessels here pass under the Joan Gaskell Road Bridge, which has height clearance of approximately 3.9m at high tide and 5.4m at low tide. This suits a wide range of boats, and many owners value the added sense of privacy and tranquillity this part of the development provides. For more details, including a helpful diagram of the bridge heights, please contact the Waterways Office or watch the demonstration video below.
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While vessel speed within the canal network is restricted to 3 knots, and 5 knots within the access channel, its only takes about 15 minutes for a boat to travel from the furthest location of the Waterways to pass the Whitianga Wharf and reach Mercury Bay.