Tewa Banks in Arrowtown is Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s largest development to date, providing 68 new homes across a mix of housing programmes, including Public Housing Rental, Senior Housing, Affordable Rental, Rent Saver and Secure Home. Located on Jopp Street, the site was gifted by Queenstown Lakes District Council in 2022. The development responds to the need for more affordable housing in the Queenstown Lakes District, with one to four-bedroom homes designed for compact, efficient living. Following an independent sustainability review, further design features were added to improve energy efficiency and long-term performance across the homes and wider masterplan, including ground source heating.

For affordable and social housing projects, fencing needs to support more than the finished streetscape. It also needs to contribute to safety, privacy, durability, efficient installation and reduced long-term maintenance across multiple dwellings. At Tewa Banks, Boundaryline’s DuraPanel Titan and SleekWall Horizontal Slat systems were used to help define outdoor spaces across the development. DuraPanel Titan was specified for areas requiring compliant F4 – Safety from Falling fencing, including retaining walls, level changes and pedestrian areas. The aluminium system is designed for 2400mm post centres whilst maintaining F4 compliance, which can help reduce the number of posts required compared with closer post spacing. This can support faster installation, fewer materials and reduced time on site.

Used with 65 x 65mm posts, DuraPanel Titan features square verticals and rectangular horizontals for additional strength. A rakeable panel is also available up to 40°, allowing the fence line to respond to sloping or more complex terrain without extensive customisation. SleekWall Horizontal Slat was used to provide privacy and definition between homes and outdoor living areas. The aluminium slat system includes hidden fixings behind covers, adjustable slat spacings and a fully powdercoated finish. Its modular kitset design supports efficient installation, while the low-maintenance aluminium construction helps reduce ongoing upkeep for residents and housing providers.

In affordable housing, long-term value is shaped by more than the initial product cost. Durability, efficient installation and reduced maintenance all contribute to the total cost of a building over time. Tewa Banks shows how fencing can support compact housing design while contributing to safe, practical and well-defined outdoor spaces. DuraPanel Titan and SleekWall Horizontal Slat provide durable aluminium boundary solutions suited to a development focused on long-term community housing.