Councillors endorsed a “cutting edge” inclusionary zoning plan change at yesterday’s (Thursday August 11) Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) meeting.

Under the plan change, anyone undertaking a subdivision of more than a single lot within a residential zone would have to make a contribution of land or money which would go to the Queenstown Lakes Central Housing Trust (QLCHT) to help it deliver affordable housing for the region’s residents. 

Deputy mayor Calum MacLeod said it was “nationally leading and cutting edge”.

“This is fundamental to us succeeding as a district and being as inclusive as we can,” he said. 

Residential-zoned subdivisions of fewer than 20 new lots would require a contribution equal to five percent of the estimated sales value of the lots and, for subdivisions with 20 or more lots, developers would need to transfer five percent of the lots. 

Subdivisions under different zoning would be subject to a smaller financial contribution, as would new residential floorspace.  

With previous funding sources drying up, the inclusionary zoning plan change will “officially enable what has been happening on the ground for two decades,” QLCHT executive officer Julie Scott said. 

Since forming in 2007, the QLCHT has assisted 243 local households into affordable, secure tenure housing throughout the district through its four programmes: Shared ownership, affordable rentals, rent saver, and secure home.

A record 795 eligible households on QLCHT’s waiting list means “this is no time to rest on our laurels,” Julie said.

“We must continue to scale up operations and delivery of homes accordingly.”

A last-minute request from iwi for Māori land and Crown land reserved for Māori to be exempt from the inclusionary zoning requirements proved divisive at yesterday’s meeting and, in the end, was not included in the final recommendation. 

Every councillor except Nikki Gladding voted in favour of the inclusionary zoning plan change. 

The plan change is still subject to a process under the Resource Management Act and Nikki said she believed it would end up “in the courts” and “we will not end up with any money”. 

“I fully support the housing trust and getting them money but I don’t think this is the way to do it,” she said. 

Most councillors were supportive.

“I’m not unaware of the challenges this plan change will face…but we need to try [to address housing affordability] and I support us doing everything we can,” councillor Quentin Smith said. 

PHOTOS: Supplied