Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has begun early-stage planning for Priority Development Areas (PDAs) in Wānaka - locations which have been identified for growth.

Six PDAs were identified in the 2021 Spatial Plan, which provides a ‘roadmap to the future’, setting out a vision and framework for how and where the district will grow by 2050.

As part of that work each PDA needs a structure plan - a 30-year roadmap to guide how an area grows, from where homes, shops, and parks go, to how people get around and where key services are placed and staged.

Two of the four are already completed and QLDC is now turning its attention to South Wānaka and the Wānaka CBD-Three Parks corridor. 

Wānaka South (mostly undeveloped land located between Riverbank Road and the existing township) could eventually fit more than 5,000 homes, a local centre, and new transport links, according to QLDC. 

Meanwhile the Wānaka Town Centre-Three Parks corridor could add around 2,000 homes, along with more shops, offices, and community facilities.

QLDC staff told the Smart Growth committee on Tuesday (March 3) it planned to deliver a single, integrated structure plan covering the two Wānaka PDAs.

“At this stage we’ve only really just started beginning work,” the staffer said, adding that technical, ecological, hazard, and cultural reports are currently underway.

They said they anticipate it will take around two years to complete the structure plan - and community input will be an important part of the process.

“We’d really like to use this as an opportunity to have some really meaningful community participation as the structure plan progresses.”

QLDC is also beginning work on a structure plan for Frankton.

Staff said they intended to make some headway on the structure plans before discussing further with councillors and, later, beginning community consultation.

Councillor Cody Tucker said there were many advantages to structure plans, which help to guide the placement of essential infrastructure and services to ensure development of well-functioning, cohesive communities.

Though they set the direction for future development, structure plans do not change zoning.

PHOTO: Wānaka App