Queenstown's council plans to fast-track new district plan zoning rules to tackle the district's housing shortage.
It has given staff approval to ask the Environment Court to give immediate legal effect to proposed new rules for low-density residential and business mixed-use zones.
If the application is granted, the less onerous rules could encourage new subdivisions and infill housing.
In a report to councillors at the Queenstown Lakes District Council's full meeting yesterday, district plan manager Matthew Paetz said the measure was needed to address ''immediate and urgent housing pressures'' and could encourage ''appropriate medium-density housing developments in the medium term''.
Rules applying to the low-density residential housing chapter of the proposed district plan relate to dwelling type, height, density and parking.
The operative rules were not being discarded, and the public would still be able to make submissions on the new rules, Mr Paetz said.
''The operative rules still have weight, so the consent panellists would have to balance the operative rules and the proposed rules, which have immediate legal effect.
''So there is still a lot of protection in place.''
Proposed new rules for the medium-density residential housing chapter of the proposed district plan were a ''significant change'' and would go through the normal public submission process, he said.
Councillors also gave approval for the proposed district plan to be publicly notified. Following notification - expected to occur in late August - a 40-day formal submission period will begin.
Public hearing of submissions is expected to begin next February and continue until mid-2016.
