Rezoning request made to allow tennis academy
A DEVELOPER has called for a large section of land in Queenstown to be rezoned to allow for new recreational facilities, including a tennis academy intended to turn out professional players.
Bridesdale Farm Developments Ltd made an oral submission to a hearing panel considering stage 2 of Queenstown Lakes District Council’s proposed district plan (PDP) yesterday, requesting a 16.8ha section of its land and two neighbouring councilowned reserves be zoned for ‘‘active sports and recreation’’.
The company has applied for resource consent to use its land for a 1ha tennis facility south of the Bridesdale Farm subdivision, near Lake Hayes, to be run by the Winton Tennis Academy.
In his evidence to the panel, recreation researcher Dr Shayne Galloway said the rezoning would create a ‘‘unique recreation opportunity . . . that would contribute a great deal to the development of a positive community identity and culture’’.
The academy would include six outdoor and two covered tennis courts surrounded by 2mtall landscaped embankments to be used for informal seating and landscape mitigation.
A lightweight structure would be used for the roof of the covered courts, which would be up to 11.7m above the current ground level.
The company’s representatives highlighted the need for more community recreation spaces in Queenstown, claim ing several other groups would be able to make use of the area if it was rezoned to allow organised sport and events, along with associated buildings and structures.
The council reserves are at present zoned in the PDP for ‘‘informal recreation’’, which allows for a ‘‘basic informal recreation experience’’, such as providing flat space for ball games and other activities that do not require special facilities.
Landscape architect Stephen Skelton told the panel the Queenstown Events Centre being zoned for community purposes under the PDP only ‘‘adds to the confusion’’ over which activities are allowed in each type of recreational zone.
Commissioners raised concerns about pressures on infrastructure, increased traffic, the possibility of flooding and limitations on the number of facilities the area would be able to cope with, if the rezoning was approved.
The panel also considered whether the proposed rezoning would have a negative impact on the area’s ‘‘outstanding natural landscape’’.
Mr Skelton said the flat land between the Kawarau River and nearby residential areas was ‘‘part of a remnant pastoral landscape which holds very little natural character’’.
Bridesdale also previously requested a section of land, where Queenstown’s first special housing area is being developed, be rezoned as medium density residential as part of the PDP.
Submissions to the panel from other parties are expected to continue today at the Heritage Hotel in Queenstown.