Council fast-track proposal under fire
Plans to ‘‘thoughtlessly carve up’’ rural land on the outskirts of Queenstown for a large-scale urban development should not be fast-tracked, Queenstown councillors were told.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council held a public forum yesterday to get feedback on future development plans for 136 hectares of rural land on Ladies Mile, on State Highway 6.
Ladies Mile Pet Lodge owner Keri Lemaire-Sicre, who is one of 15 landowners within the area of the proposed development, told councillors she was ‘‘absolutely opposed’’ to the ‘‘pie in the sky’’ proposal.
‘‘In order for it to work it requires full co-operation of all landowners and we are not prepared to give up our historical right to operate our business on Ladies Mile to accommodate this proposal.’’
In the plan, the pet lodge which was established over 40 years ago, had been replaced with a green belt, walking and cycling tracks and high density development, she said.
‘‘We believe it is a sad attempt to meet the Government’s mandate to provide affordable housing. There is no affordability in housing in a tourist resort such as Queenstown, certainly not for the ones that need it. The only ones benefiting from this are the developers.’’
Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country Community Association chairman Clark Pirie said the proposal should form part of the district plan review rather than have a short period of time for public consultation.
‘‘It is very important the community be involved. We are not talking about a small area that is going to be labelled as a special housing area.
‘‘We are talking about 300 acres here and it is gateway material in terms of our local amenity and the community should be consulted not just in the next eight weeks leading up to your meeting in August.’’
Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust Raymond Key said the council was listening too much to Government mandate.
‘‘We are listening too much to the Government mandate that tells us that 1200 - 1300 sections need to be done ... why?
‘‘Why do they get to tell us that and quite frankly, legally, what can they ultimately do to a council that will stand up and look after its community rather than being dictated by the Government.’’
During discussion, councillor Scott Stevens questioned council staff why the Ladies Mile proposal could not form part of the district plan process.
Planning and development general manager Tony Avery said the recommendation to process it through the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 (HASHAA) - was for ‘‘speed of delivery’’.
The district plan process could take up to three years, compared with one year under the HASHAA process - which also did not require public consultation.
Mayor Jim Boult said although there was no requirement to consult publicly, he wanted to hear the community’s views.
The council agreed to adopt the recommendation to seek public feedback on the proposed addition of the Ladies Mile area into Category 2 of the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 Implementation Policy, including the indicative master plan, indicative landscape strategy and development objectives.