A blueprint for the development of the ‘‘Southern Corridor’’ – a stretch of land south of Queenstown suitable for more housing – has been approved despite concerns about a lack of infrastructure funding.
The rapidly-growing residential area south of the Kawarau River includes Jack’s Point and Hanley’s Farm, while two more subdivisions at its northern end, Park Ridge and Woolbrae, are consented for nearly 900 homes.
At the southern end is Homestead Bay, where developer RCL Group is seeking fast-track approval for 2800 homes.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council voted 9-1 to approve a ‘‘structure plan’’ for the area at a meeting in Wanaka this week.
A report for councillors said the area was expected to reach a full capacity of about 9300 homes within 15-20 years and the plan would help guide the provision of transport, Three Waters, parks and recreation, community facilities as well as retail and commercial development.
It proposed a library, aquatic centre, more sports fields and parks, while a second primary school and a secondary school would be needed.
A transport assessment said the Kawarau Falls Bridge, which connects the area to Frankton, would reach its morning peak-time capacity in 2027 and a second river crossing would be needed.
Public consultation had highlighted residents’ desire for a commuter biking trail to Frankton and more frequent public transport, particularly buses with priority lanes, the report said.
Spatial plan project manager Catriona Lamont said the council would have to issue at least 350 building consents a year to cope with demand in the area.
Preparing the structure plan had led to a better understanding of its infrastructure needs and the funding required, which would bolster the council’s position when it was talking to the government about the need for the second bridge, bus lanes, new schools and even a mass rapid transit system.
Cr Niki Gladding said she wanted to ‘‘push pause’’ on the structure plan until the council’s options for a new disposal system for the Shotover wastewater treatment plant were better understood.
Approving a plan that assumed the area’s wastewater would be piped to Shotover would ‘‘push’’ the council towards choosing direct discharge into the Kawarau River as the long-term disposal option for the plant’s output.
Cr Quentin Smith said the Southern Corridor was facing a ‘‘massive’’ challenge with infrastructure, particularly the second bridge and wastewater.
The long-term plan did not allocate funding for infrastructure in the area until 2031-34 and only then covered 10-15% of the expected costs.
However, he supported the plan because it gave the council a ‘‘mechanism for reaching out for more funding’’.
Cr Gavin Bartlett said the plan would ‘‘lend weight’’ to the council’s arguments when it lobbied for capital funding.
‘‘We’re not going to end up with 9000-odd houses there next year … that gives us time to find solutions to those infrastructure problems.’’
Councillors approved the structure plan 9-1, with Cr Gladding opposing it.