Over the past decade, vacant sections within the township have been snapped up and built on and new subdivisions have been created, including one of more than 20 sections developed by the Waitaki District Council next to the Omarama airfield and rural-residential subdivisions on its eastern approach along State Highway 83.
The Omarama Airfield has continued to develop as a world-class gliding centre and new commercial buildings have been built.
However, there has been growing concern about ad hoc development in the township and this had triggered a call for a more planned approach.
That led to the Ahuriri Community Board and council considering a district plan change for Omarama.
The council has estimated that preparing a plan change could cost between $100,000 and $150,000 and the community board at its meeting this Tuesday night will consider whether to initiate that.
The council's strategy group manager, Richard Mabon, said the wish for a planned approach to the future of Omarama followed a subdivision application last year for land to the south of Ahuriri Dr, which comes off SH 83 at the eastern boundary of the town.
A "visioning workshop" with the community about that time identified a desire to extend the residential zone of the town into the Ahuriri Dr area to allow for growth in Omarama.
Earlier this year, the area was inspected and a draft rezoning plan prepared.
However, the community board felt that, while there was a need to provide for further residential land, consideration should be given to a review of the whole of Omarama.
Mr Mabon said the demand for more residential land presented the opportunity to consider a plan change for the whole of Omarama, rather than just one area.
It would allow for a comprehensive review of the future development needs of the community and development of an overall strategy.
Such a plan change could identify land for future development, roads to serve the growth, buffer zones to protect and separate residential, industrial, commercial and aviation activities and provide tree planting corridors as part of an overall landscape strategy.
Other issues included assessing the impact on infrastructure such as water supply, stormwater and sewage disposal, some of which would require approvals from Environment Canterbury.
Mr Mabon estimated this could be a three-year project, costing between $100,000 and $150,000.
