Spatial Plan 2024 Gen 2.0 - Call for urban growth sites
The ‘call for sites’ process closed on 16 July 2023. We'll now evaluate the sites shared in feedback, and a number of options for potential future growth will be developed.
UPDATE: There will be delays in the finalisation of the Spatial Plan Gen 2.0 due to the 2024 Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (HBA) and the Council’s Long-Term Plan (LTP) being rescheduled to later completion dates.
The Spatial Plan is dependent on information from both the LTP and HBA relating to Council’s short-medium term infrastructure servicing and funding. This information will inform whether there are constraints Council needs to respond to because of a plan-enabled or infrastructure capacity issue. This information will enable us to develop spatial options relating to the call for urban growth sites.
After the LTP has been consulted on in mid 2024, we will provide an update on timeframes.
The Queenstown Lakes District is a highly desirable place to live, visit or invest in property.
Our population is projected to grow due to the attractive scenery and climate, clean environment, outdoor lifestyle, strong economic opportunities and national and international connectivity. With growth comes increased demand for houses, businesses and supporting infrastructure.
The Spatial Plan Gen 2.0 builds on earlier work completed in 2021, and will become part of our Future Development Strategy, which is a government requirement for all high growth councils in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The purpose of our Spatial Plan is to help us 'grow well' to create urban spaces that don’t just meet our needs but are places we are proud of. It will also guide how our natural environment is protected and enhanced alongside our urban growth.
Community input on this process is vital and this page will be your one-stop-shop as the Spatial Plan Gen 2.0 and Future Development Strategy evolves.
Call for urban growth sites | What sites might be suitable | What areas are not suitable | How to suggest a site | Next steps
Call for Urban Growth sites
This is a 12-month process, and one of the first steps we are required to take is a public ‘call for sites’. This is an opportunity to suggest sites and areas that could be considered suitable for future urban development across Queenstown Lakes.
As part of this process, you are also invited to provide suggestions for special environmental features that warrant greater protection or enhancement, such as a stream or native vegetation. You can also suggest areas or provide information on areas you consider inappropriate for urban development, e.g., due to natural hazard constraints, infrastructure constraints, noise or odour from neighbouring activities.
If you'd like to suggest a site, read on for some guidance on what needs to be considered.
What sites or areas might be suitable?
Below is some guidance on the types of areas that may be suitable.
In more detail…
More detailed criteria for areas that might be suitable include:
Housing area preferences
- Areas that support Takata whenua aspirations.
- Sites that could provide at least 20 new dwellings and contribute to a range of housing, including affordable housing, and
- Are well-connected to existing or planned urban areas with key services and community amenities (e.g. schools, retail centres), or
- Could provide development of a scale that it could generate its own demand for a range of commercial and community services.
Industrial area preferences
- Sites that provide at least 500m2 gross floor area + for business and commercial development, or
- Sites that provide at least 0.25Ha for industrial development
Both housing and industrial area preferences
- Areas where there is known demand for additional residential or business land.
- Existing land zoned for urban development which could support increased densities through intensification.
Infrastructure preferences
- Areas located along existing or planned transport (including public transport) corridors, and
- Areas where required development infrastructure (water, wastewater, stormwater, power, telecommunications) can be easily provided.
Environmental preferences
- The development can support emissions reductions and climate resilience, and
- The area can improve freshwater quality, or has little impact on it.
What areas are not suitable?
Areas shouldn't be
- Located on land identified as an Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Features or having sensitive or protected biodiversity - check GIS District Mapping tool
- A rural living proposal or located on highly productive land.
- Subject to significant natural hazard constraints - check GIS District Mapping tool and the Otago Regional Council Natural Hazards portal
- A satellite urban development proposal without good access to strategic transport routes or important amenities (like schools)
- Requiring significant investment to service infrastructure
- National Policy Statement Urban Development – Governs how we ensure we have well-functioning urban environments that meet the changing needs of our diverse communities
- National Policy Statement Highly Productive Land – Governs how we protect our highly productive land for primary production
- National Policy Statement Freshwater Management – Governs how we manage our impacts on freshwater hat gives effect to Te mana o te Wai (ensuring the life-supporting capacity of freshwater)
- Resource Management Act – Section 6 – Governs matter of national importance in how we manage the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources
Our population growth requirements – we will use projections from the Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (update underway) to help us determine how and where we need to grow.
Existing Queenstown Lakes spatial plan – sets out an approach to consolidated growth in and around existing urban environments
Our evolving needs – the Future Development Strategy will be reviewed every three years, with a full update every six which may change the circumstances around how we select sites for future growth.
The ‘call for sites’ process closed on 16 July 2023.
Once we have received feedback on sites that could be suitable* for future residential or business urban development, these sites will be evaluated, and a number of options for potential future growth will be developed.
Public engagement on these future growth options is planned for October this year. Once this second round of engagement is completed a preferred draft growth strategy will be developed.
We'll then formally notify the Future Development Strategy/Spatial Plan Gen 2.0 in early 2024.
* Note a full assessment/report will be made available in the final Future Development Strategy detailing why proposals are included or not included.