The Waitaki District Council is still waiting for Parliament to pass a vital piece of legislation so the Forrester Heights subdivision in Oamaru can be developed and titles issued.
Already, more than half of the 27 sections in the 5.84ha sub-division on Cape Wanbrow have been sold, but the council cannot take the development any further until Parliament passes the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill.
The Bill, promoted by Minister of Lands David Parker, lifts a reserve designation over the land, which is needed before the subdivision can proceed.
The council had hoped the Bill would be passed by the end of last year, but is now facing the prospect of development being delayed until towards the end of this year.
A spokeswoman for Mr Parker said yesterday the Bill was before Parliament and waiting its first reading.
Once it has received its first reading, it will be referred to a select committee - possibly the primary production select committee - which will call for submissions.
It was not known if the Bill would receive its first reading before Parliament rises in October for the general election.
If it does not make it through before then, it is expected to be progressed by the next parliament.
The Forrester Heights subdivision is expected to make a $3 million contribution towards the $9.7 million Opera House redevelopment. In the interim, the council's property division has raised a loan and paid that into the Opera House fund.
