Universal Developments continues to push for an expansion to the Hāwea Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), and the local community association continues to oppose it. 

The company has made an appeal to the Environment Court over the recent decision for the boundary to remain at Cemetery Road: It argues that land as far south as Domain Road should be zoned for urban development.

Universal Developments, which is owned by Lane Hocking, currently has a 480-lot development underway for the south side of Cemetery Road, one of two developments approved outside the boundaries of the UGB. 

In the appeal, lawyers for Universal Developments said extending the UGB further south would give it “defensible and legible urban edges” and rezoning it for development would “ensure quality urban design and amenity outcomes… and promote affordable housing”.

Extending the UGB to Domain Road would more than double the size of the existing boundary. 

The Hāwea Community Association (HCA) identified Cemetery Road as the preferred boundary for the township in 2015 and it has fought against residential development outside it. 

Hay bales would eventually be replaced by houses if developers win the appeal. PHOTO: Wanaka App

The decision by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors in March to retain the boundary’s existing location was a “significant win” for the community according Hāwea Community Association (HCA) chair Cherilyn Walthew. 

She said she was disappointed by Universal Development’s appeal, as well as that of a second appellant, Streats Development Limited.

The company owns 16.8ha on the south side of Cemetery Road and it has resource consent to create 36 rural residential lots of 4000m2 each in four stages (stage one is now complete); it has asked for a rezoning of its property to Settlement Zone, which would allow for section sizes as small as 800m2. 

Like Universal Developments, Streats Developments Limited argued that rezoning of the land is “a logical extension to the existing Hāwea urban environment”. 

Lawyers for the developers said it would provide for “more efficient and effective use of the land”, adding that “provision of land supply is a critical part of addressing current housing and affordability issues in Hāwea and the wider district”. 

The HCA is “working through” the appeals, Cherilyn said.

"Clearly the HCA is disappointed with the appeals and in some cases the total disregard for the concerns and aspirations of our community,” she said. 

The community association was working through the appeals and could not comment further at this time, she said.