The Queenstown Lakes District Council has ratified a plan change to promote cluster development at Makarora and tighten up on potential development in natural hazard zones in the Makarora Valley.
The changes follow extensive community consultation and meetings with residents and the Otago Regional Council.
In its former state, the district plan potentially allowed for 400 new residential lots along a 10km stretch of highway between the head of Lake Wanaka and Pipson Creek.
The Makarora Community Association developed a community plan in 2004 which supported changes to promote development around three existing residential hubs over the next 10 to 20 years.
Transit New Zealand also preferred clustered housing.
The Otago Regional Council was concerned property and people within the district were potentially threatened by floods and slips in the valley and rivers.
The commissioners have recommended the Queenstown Lakes District Council urgently update its natural hazards register in relation to the Makarora Valley.
The commissioners have also clarified the average lot sizes in the Makarora rural lifestyle zone.
From now on, zone rule 15.2.6.3 reads: "The total lots to be created by subdivision [including balance of the site within the zone] shall not have an average less than 2ha."
The new subdivision standards also mean the council can restrict development on parts of a site, or all of a site.
Resource consent applications do not need to be publicly notified, unless special circumstances exist.
However, prior to processing an application on a non-notified basis, the district council must obtain the written approval of the regional council.
