Section numbers slashed by developer

WANAKA property developer Lane Hocking has slashed the number of sections he is proposing for a special housing area at Lake Hawea.

His plan was for 1000 sections on the south of Cemetery Rd but the ‘‘expression of interest’’ he put to the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday was for 400 ‘‘quality new homes’’.

His original plan got little support at a meeting in the township last month.

‘‘We have listened carefully to community feedback,’’ Mr Hocking said in a statement.

‘‘Acknowledging that feedback, we have scaled back the proposal to around 400 sections from the 1000 sections envisaged initially.

‘‘This will ensure the project can still address significant housing affordability and supply challenges in Hawea and the wider district.’’

Mr Hocking said construction could start in the middle of next year, ‘‘subject to public consultation and final planning approval’’.

He expected that house and land packages would cost between $460,000 and $550,000, which was ‘‘at or below’’ the council limit of $550,000 for firsthome buyers.

The development would have a ‘‘community hub’’, reserves, a playground and ‘‘highquality streetscaping and tree planting’’.

Mr Hocking said his company, Universal Developments, would also gift 40 of the 400 new sections to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust to provide affordable housing for those in need.

Hawea Community Association (HCA) chairman Paul Cunningham said the changes made by Mr Hocking made no difference to the association’s view.

‘‘It doesn’t matter if there are 400 sections or 5000.

‘‘The HCA policy is that the town is to stay within the natural boundaries until it is full.

‘‘There’s plenty of room in Hawea at the moment.’’

Cemetery Rd is considered to be the township’s southern boundary.

The council will consider the expression of interest under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013, which does not require a full public consultation process.

The council is undertaking ‘‘informal consultation’’ until June 21, and will consider the expression of interest on June 28.