A new type of zoning could preserve and enhance biodiversity and improve community wellbeing, proponents and supporters say. 

Wānaka residents Florence Micoud and Terry Drayton have spent two years developing a regenerative land zoning concept, which could protect green spaces from urban development.

With Wānaka’s urban area due to expand for population growth, notably in ‘South Wānaka’ where there could be up to 5,000 new houses, we need to start mitigating future growth now, Terry says.

“As we expand these zones into domestic or urban zoning we have to make preservation for green space within these areas,” Terry said.

The idea behind regenerative zoning is that residents on fringe rural allotments could make a choice either to urbanise or become a regenerative zone.

If they chose to become a regenerative zone they would likely receive some kind of rates reduction or tax rebate and in exchange they would commit to keep the land in a single piece in perpetuity (it could be sold but not subdivided); commit to biodiversity projects on the land; and/or commit to providing community access to the property in some form.

This could be anything from a community park to a walking trail, a forest to a shared vegetable garden - as long as it is regenerative. 

Terry and Florence said the concept was still in the early stages and subject to change depending on community and council input.

“I think the main thing is we want to make this a collaborative affair,” Terry said. “This is the starting point.”

Lake Wānaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke said he was supportive of the regenerative zoning concept, which aligned with the district’s Destination Management Plan (DMP) and its goal to have the district reach climate zero by 2030.

“It’s a classic example of a really positive initiative that has come from members of the community and it’s got a lot of great merit,” he said.

“It ties in from an ecological perspective but also with climate change and carbon sequestration,” Tim said. “The more natural places we’ve got like that, the more carbon that can be absorbed out of the atmosphere.”

A recent presentation to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) was received positively and Terry said he received direction on the next steps to take with the council to further investigate the idea.

Anyone interested in the regenerative zoning concept can join the Regenerative Wānaka Facebook page to find out more.

PHOTO: Wānaka App