Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is making progress on a controversial proposal which would allow for increased housing density and building height if approved.

More than 1,250 submissions were received on the Urban Intensification Variation (UIV), indicating significant public interest in the proposal.

The proposal will go before a hearings panel around the end of the year or early next year, QLDC media and channels advisor Sam White told the Wānaka App.

He said QLDC staff are currently making a summary of submissions, the next step in progressing the proposal.

“We expect to complete the summary next month and will then notify for further submissions,” he said.

The UIV proposes growth “out and up” - increased building height and density - in locations around the district, including parts of Wānaka and Hāwea. 

Under the proposal, the regulations for Lower Density Suburban Residential (LDSR) zones would change to allow for building height up to 8m in most cases, and in Medium Density Residential (MDR) zones heights of 11m (+ 1m for pitched roofs).

It would also allow for heights in the Wānaka CBD of 16.5m (up from 12m).

The UIV proposal has had mixed reactions from the public.

At a drop-in session late last year one resident said it would be “the start of another bloody Queenstown” while another said there was “enough going on at Three Parks”.

Its proponents, including QLDC, say it would help enable a more diverse range of housing types (like units, flats and low-rise apartments) and enable supply through intensification rather than urban sprawl.

After the summary of submissions is made public next month, original submitters will be able to make an additional submission in support of, or opposition to, any original submission made, Sam said.

“Anyone who made a submission on the proposed variation last year will receive an email/letter notifying them when further submissions are underway,” he said. 

After that, they’ll be able to present their submission on the topic to a hearings panel, he said.

Sams said the council is currently working on the district plan website to provide updated guidance about how to take part in the next stages of the process.

PHOTO: Wānaka App