Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is currently reviewing submissions for a proposed inclusionary housing plan change which would provide a local community housing provider with an ongoing funding stream to build and supply affordable houses.

Residents had a chance to have their say on the plan change proposal earlier this year and QLDC media and channels advisor Sam White said the council is currently collating and reviewing those submissions.

“We hope to be able to share the submissions themselves before the end of the year but, given the work involved, it’s possible this will be early next year,” he said.

The proposal has received mixed support and, ahead of submissions opening, QLDC advised everyone in the district to set aside some time to understand the topic.

Under the proposal QLDC would introduce inclusionary zoning rules into the proposed district plan which would mean most new residential subdivisions and developments will have to pay an affordable housing financial contribution.

The money would be collected by QLDC and provided to Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT), or another registered community housing provider, to help it continue providing affordable housing to the district’s residents.

QLDC planning and development manager Tony Avery said since the proposal is subject to formal consultation, changes may be made as a result of submissions. 

The QLCHT has shared its own submission on the proposed plan change, which said it was supportive of the high-level principles of inclusionary zoning but believes there is room for further amendments to the proposal.

Their submission argues against three of the proposal’s provisions: the requirement for landowners subdividing a single existing lot into two or three new lots within the urban growth boundary; the requirement for existing serviced lots to pay a financial contribution upon the construction of a single residential dwelling; and the requirement for landowners to make a contribution when they have purchased a serviced allotment to build a single residential dwelling.

“We consider these provisions have gone beyond the original intentions of the policy that landowners undertaking larger subdivisions and developments would be required to make a contribution,” QLCHT’s submission says. 

“As such, we would like to see the policy more aligned with the stakeholder deeds and agreements provided since 2003.”

Initial information about the submissions should be available in the next week or two, Sam said, with more to follow in the new year.

Read QLCHT’s full submission here.

Read more: Inclusionary zoning: a closer look

PHOTO: Wānaka App