A hearing is underway this week on a proposal to introduce ‘inclusionary housing’ rules which would provide a local community housing provider with an ongoing funding stream to build and supply affordable houses.

If the inclusionary housing proposal gets the go-ahead, most new residential subdivisions and developments will have to pay an ‘affordable housing financial contribution’ in either land or cash.

This would be collected by council and provided to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) - or another registered housing provider - to provide them with an ongoing funding stream to build and supply affordable houses for low and middle income residents.

On Tuesday (February 27) the hearings panel (chair Jan Caunter, Jane Taylor, Ken Fletcher and Lee Beattie) was presented the proposal by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff and on Wednesday (February 28) they heard from QLCHT, Te Whatu Ora, Ngāi Tahu and others.

Yesterday (Thursday February 29), the hearing moved over to this side of the hill where the panel heard from residents who made submissions on the original proposal.

Under the proposal, developers would be subject to either a one percent or five percent ‘affordable housing contribution’.

For residential developments that create vacant residential lots in existing urban areas, the contribution would be either five per cent of the additional serviced lots created, provided as a land transfer or an equivalent monetary contribution.

For subdivisions in a settlement, rural-residential, Wakatipu Basin rural amenity, lifestyle precinct or special zones, developers would need to contribute one percent of the anticipated sales value of the additional lots.

The controversial proposal received 181 submissions during community consultation, most of them opposing.

Go deeper: Thumbs down from locals to inclusionary housing proposal

Supporters, on the other hand, say it will be a game changer for the supply of affordable housing in the district. 

Go deeper: Big win for community housing trust

The hearing will continue today at the Wānaka Community Hub, starting at 9.30am.

PHOTO: QLCHT