Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has put out a call for areas that could be considered suitable for residential and business urban development across the district.

The public ‘call for sites’ process will help inform development of the second iteration of the Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan adopted in 2021.

The Spatial Plan 2024 Gen 2.0 will take around 12 months to complete and will become part of the Future Development Strategy, a government requirement for all high-growth councils in New Zealand, QLDC said in a statement.

QLDC strategic growth manager Anita Vanstone said this district is now home to more than 48,000 residents, a number expected to grow to more than 82,000 in the next 30 years.

“Our district continues to be a highly desirable place to live, visit and invest in and that’s down to the love for this place, its diverse communities, landscapes, lifestyle, economic opportunities, and national and international connectivity,” she said.

“But with that desirability comes increased demand for houses, businesses and supporting infrastructure and a need to ensure we ‘grow well’. 

“That involves creating urban and green spaces that don’t just meet our needs but are places we’re all proud of.”

The second generation Spatial Plan is in its early stages of development, QLDC said, and the public call for sites is one of the first steps.

“As part of this, people can also suggest special environmental features or areas that warrant greater protection or enhancement, such as a stream or areas with native vegetation, or to suggest areas they consider inappropriate for urban development due to things like natural hazards or infrastructure constraints, or noise and odour from neighbouring activities,” Anita said.

Detailed criteria for suitable sites for future urban development and a GIS-based survey for suggestions can be found at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz.

The public call for sites will close on July 16 with several options for potential future growth developed following evaluation. 

Public engagement on these options is planned for October this year, followed by the development of a draft Future Development Strategy/Spatial Plan Gen 2.0 for formal notification in early 2024.

Read more:

Council proposes major changes to urban density rules

More urban growth: Hāwea urban boundary to be extended

PHOTO: Wānaka App