As many as 65 new residential sections could be created in Albert Town if Southern Ventures Property Ltd’s request for rezoning is approved.

The development company, which created the Kirimoko suburb in Wanaka, has submitted a rezoning request to the council’s Proposed District Plan (PDP) (stage three) to redefine four hectares of rural and rural lifestyle zoned land adjacent to the Cardrona River as lower density suburban residential (LDSR) zoning.

Southern Ventures development manager Ian Greaves said LDSR zoning is the same proposed zoning as the rest of Albert Town and “is a natural extension of this [residential part of town]”.

Ian said even though the submission proposed creating a maximum of 65 sections from the current four lots, it was likely fewer than 65 sections would be developed. 

Instead, they intend to incorporate some of the village style environmental features synonymous with the company’s Kirimoko development.

“...if we are successful with this rezoning, a number of the Kirimoko features can be pulled into this site including streetscape plantings, low impact stormwater design and best practise urban design principles,” he said. 

Developer Southern Ventures says this site provides an opportunity to better link Albert Town with the Cardrona River with the potential for ecological enhancement and a wetland. PHOTO: Wanaka App

“We also believe that this site represents a real opportunity to improve the interface between Albert Town and the Cardrona River and we are committed to provide improved public access to the Cardrona River and ecological enhancement of the area with the potential inclusion of a wetland.”

Building so close to the floodplain of the Cardrona River will pose some issues, Ian said, but engineering reports said the concerns of flooding or liquefaction could be mitigated by lifting the development platforms and adopting a set back from the river for the proposed land filling area. 

“This aspect has been carefully considered and...the Lower Density Suburban Residential Zone has been set back from the Cardrona River to ensure any potential issues are avoided,” he said.

Albert Town long term resident Bruce Hebberd’s uncle Dave Templeton used to own the land which also included a popular camping area near the river where, in late 1950s or early 60s he recalls, the Cardrona flooded once and caught the campers by surprise.

“But that’s a once in 50 years event,” he said. The last time it happened was during the floods of 1999 when many parts of Albert Town, built at the confluence of three rivers, also experienced flooding, he said.

Almost all Albert Town’s available residential land has already been developed, including land just upstream at Cameron Creek, so as long as flood mitigation measures were put in place, Bruce said, it was “good to see it [this land] being used”.

The proposed housing development would cover less than half of the available four hectares of land and the larger portion would be left in an improved natural state, Ian said. 

He said the final subdivision layout and density is not decided, however, a range of section sizes will be offered if their petition for rezoning is successful. Access to the development would be off the existing road network, such as Templeton Street.

Ian understood a decision on stage three of the PDP submissions was due “in the coming weeks” but, even if it was successful, he does not expect to be filing resource consent this year.