Much higher intensity housing is a feature of the new Mt Iron Junction development plan, which has been confirmed on the government’s fast-track approvals projects list released on Sunday (October 6).

Two hundred and sixty-three “high density units” are part of the Mt Iron Junction Housing Scheme project, the government said. 

High density units include townhouses or apartment buildings.

Mt Iron Junction Ltd director and long-time Wānaka resident Steve Schikker told the Wānaka App he was “very pleased with the outcome”.

“We look forward to moving through the process,” he said.

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An artist’s impression of the original terraced housing planned for the junction. The plans now include 263 high density units. IMAGE: Supplied

Steve declined to provide details about the latest proposal, which was submitted to the Fast Track process, except to confirm it was “higher density than the original”.

The original plan that went through the Environment Court was for a service station, a nine-unit workers’ accommodation village and 13 two-and three-bedroomed terrace houses.

Steve and fellow director Peter Greene publicly announced their plans for the mixed-use development (on 6ha of unused land at the base of Wānaka’s Mt Iron, bounded by State Highways 6 and 84) in 2018.

Read more: Major development proposed for Wānaka’s entrance

“We envisage Mt Iron Junction to be an attractive, thoughtful and functional entrance to Wānaka – one that complements the natural environment, existing urban and commercial development, and community infrastructure, while offering the necessary facilities for future growth,” Steve said at the time.

There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then, including Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) declining the original resource consent application. A compromise was reached through the Environment Court for a modified development and conditional consent was granted in April.

One of the conditions specified for the development’s go-ahead was an operational roundabout adjacent to the development. Work on the Mt Iron Junction roundabout began in 2023 was officially deemed completed in July this year. 

Late last year came the controversial news that a McDonald’s restaurant had been proposed for the junction area. The McDonald’s proposal is due to go to a hearing panel next month.

Regional development minister Shane Jones said the 149 projects chosen by Cabinet will be listed in the Fast Track Approvals Bill.

“Once the bill is passed, [projects] will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess the project and apply relevant conditions," he said.

An expert advisory panel of the Environmental Protection Authority will assess each project and apply any relevant environmental protections.