CLIENT CASE STUDY
Farmworker accommodation in Whakatāne
EasyBuild Bay of Plenty customer, Carol, owns a 170 hectare dairy farm in Galatea, about an hour’s drive south of Whakatāne. Galatea is predominantly a dairy district, so offering quality farmworker accommodation to attract and retain milkers is important.
After realising it wouldn’t be worth renovating her existing farmworker dwelling, from a financial perspective and because of the limits to what could be achieved, Carol made the smart decision to build an affordable new home for her employees through EasyBuild.
“My vision was simple”, Carol says. “I wanted to build a quintessential Kiwi home for farmworkers and their families. Three bedrooms, one bathroom, solid, functional, modern and affordable.”
Carol opted for EasyBuild’s Havelock design after visiting the EasyBuild Bay of Plenty show home in Mt Maunganui.
“I already knew Peter Roden (EasyBuild Bay of Plenty Director) and trusted Pete and his team would do a great job. And when I visited their show home, I really liked what I saw. The Havelock design offered three bedrooms, open plan living and lots of light”, says Carol.
Carol spoke with the team about her plans and requirements, and after signing a contract the build commenced in September 2020.
Building on a 170 hectare property certainly has its merits – there was no need to subdivide and Carol could choose exactly where she wanted to position the house on site, to take full advantage of the sun. But it also comes with its challenges.
“We had to arrange water and power to the site, and install a septic tank. Thankfully, EasyBuild sorted most of that for me – the permit, coordinating with the electricity company, and drainlaying.”
“The Bay of Plenty team were amazing to work with and were on top of all things, all of the time. They also completed minor remedial work such as paint touch ups as promised”, Carol says.
“What’s really surprised me is how very, very warm the home is. Galatea can get pretty cold in winter, so I encourage my workers to use the heat pump. And after switching off the heating, the house retains its heat.”
Carol is delighted with her new-build and has peace of mind knowing her employees have a warm, quality house to relax in and call home while they’re working on her farm.
For more information about what EasyBuild can do for you, please get in touch.