The Baie De Nekoo project is located on a coastal site north of Noumea in New Caledonia and covers some 365 hectares. The site sits in a spectacular landscape that incorporates sandy beaches and headlands, broad grass covered valleys with clumps of remnant trees and forest-covered steep slopes of visually prominent set of hills. Panoramic views from the site extend along the coast and out to sea.

Corkery Consulting was engaged by Dickson Rothschild to provide specialist landscape analysis and site planning skills to the project team. The scope of involvement included preparation of the site analysis that included landform, drainage, vegetation and visual assessment. 

Results of the site analysis provided the basis for identification of the development potential of the site. Preparation of the Master Plan involved the identification of three land use scenarios that were evaluated by the project team in consultation with the client.

The final Master Plan provides for an integrated residential resort development that responds to the natural features of the site to ensure they are protected and form an integral part of the landscape setting for the development.

The Master Plan incorporated:

• a range of residential development lot sizes
•  a village centre with community facilities

• a marina and a range of boating recreation opportunities
•  a coastal lagoon to be constructed for a range of water-based recreation activities
•  an open space network that incorporates the major drainage corridors of the site 
• an integrated network of pedestrian and cycle paths together with horse riding trails
• coastal parklands and beaches
• a Landscape Structure Plan that incorporates remnant woodland and shrub land together with new planting within open space and road corridors