Kingston will become a dormitory suburb of Queenstown unless a proposed plan change is approved, a hearing in Queenstown was told yesterday.
The change proposes to rezone 88ha of rural general land at Kingston for residential and commercial development.
It is a joint venture between the Queenstown Lakes District and owner of the land, Kingston Village Ltd.
Infrastructure management consultant Edward Guy told the hearing the plan allows the town to grow from 250 to 1729 residents over 30 years and provides for schools, employment, water and sewerage systems.
He said without the plan change, Kingston would grow in an unstructured fashion, with no affordable servicing.
The community would save 40% of the installation and 50% of operating costs of water services with the plan change.
Up to 617 of the 1729 residents would commute to Queenstown, he said.
Traffic Design Group engineer Andy Carr said State Highway 6 could cope with increased traffic.
Kingston resident Graham Dalziel voiced concerns about increased traffic on Kent St.
The Kingston Village Urban Design Master Plan is for residential development with a 2.2ha employment area, many amenities, and a new primary school for 150 pupils.
The hearing before Crs John Mann and Vanessa Van Uden continues today and tomorrow at The Crowne Plaza.
