Council putting hill land for sale to fund capital plan

A 9.5HA block of land on Queenstown Hill, owned by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, is for sale.

Council communications and engagement manager Naell CrosbyRoe said in a statement yesterday the council had decided to sell the Commonage Development block, above Vancouver Dr, subject to receiving a ‘‘suitable offer’’.

Central Government provided freehold land to the council through the Queenstown Reserves Vesting and Empowering Act 1971 to help fund infrastructure in the region.

The 1976 gift of 100 acres — about 40ha — of Crown land had been developed and sold over the years to fund district water and sewerage schemes.

The 9.5009ha block the council wants to sell is the 11th and final stage of the council’s lucrative commonage development.

Previous subdivisions on Queenstown Hill had provided residential development in Edinburgh Dr, Manchester Pl, Belfast Tce, Kent St and Vancouver Dr.

Noone from the council responded to requests from the Otago Daily Times for further information yesterday. Questions included what the land’s capital value was.

It is understood 9ha of it used to be part of 70ha of wilding pineinfested Crown land.

In 2015 the council did a land swap with the Department of Conservation, exchanging the 9ha with a 6ha site the council owned above the Commonage Villas on Kerry Dr — a deal 13 years in the making.

The council was now seeking proposals from ‘‘suitably qualified and experienced real estate agencies/agents’’ to market the land on the council’s behalf.

The marketing campaign was expected to begin this month and conclude early next year.

‘‘Income derived from any eventual sale will be used to fund council’s forward capital plan,’’ the statement said.

Marketing tenders close at 9am on November 28.