Change was inevitable, but managing it would be the key to the success of Arrowtown's growth, the "instigator" of Plan Change 39: Arrowtown South told commissioners on the first day of a hearing in the town yesterday.
The plan change seeks to rezone 31ha of land from rural general to a special zone, to enable a development comprising up to 226 dwellings, and including child-care facilities, a cafe and a dairy.
Arrowtown farmer Roger Monk told commissioners Mike Garland, of Christchurch, Lyal Cocks and Gillian Macleod, both of Queenstown, that since he moved with his family to Arrowtown in 1964, as an 18-year-old, there had been considerable change in the town, with a further 2000 residents now living there.
If the proposed land for Arrowtown South was not included within the Arrowtown boundary, the projected 20-year population increase could not be accommodated.
The "obvious risk" was the land could be used for some form of rural residential development "which will undoubtedly come under pressure ... to be further subdivided, giving rise to poorly planned inappropriate growth on the fringe of Arrowtown", he said.
The heritage area of the town had remained "relatively intact" due to planning and rules while new residential areas had negated the pressure to infill.
"The charm and structure of the heritage area will most certainly be placed at risk in the future if adequate provision is not made to accommodate a reasonable amount of the projected population increase."
Mr Monk urged the commissioners to give the Queenstown Lakes District Council an opportunity to be "proactive" and ensure "inevitable growth" was well managed in the future.
"Our children and grandchildren may also want the opportunity to live here ...
"By denying growth and change you may deny them that opportunity. The reality is William Fox couldn't stop people coming here and neither can we.
"But what we can do is provide them with a quality neighbourhood in this town."
The hearing continues at the Athenaeum Hall today.
