A proposal to create a development for almost 760 houses beside the Shotover River has received unanimous support from submitters so far, with submissions closing today.
Before the venture can proceed, the Queenstown Lakes District Council must pass a private plan change.
The QLDC publicly notified the Shotover Country private plan change 41 last month.
A group of 10 landowners, calling themselves the Ladies Mile Partnership, lodged the plan-change application in February.
At a council committee meeting in March, QLDC senior policy analyst Karen Page recommended it be rejected, saying with the projected growth of 500 residential or visitor dwellings per year, there was still capacity within the current zoning for another 20 years.
"There is no demand for this development," Ms Page said.
But in May, the QLDC's strategy committee disagreed, saying the project might be "one of the last chances to have reasonably affordable housing" in the district.
Ladies Mile Partnership includes landowners Terence McCashin, Beverley McCashin and Grant Stalker.
They propose to rezone about 120ha of rural general land to form a new zone, the Shotover Country special zone.
The site is located to the south of the Ladies Mile Highway, and is bordered by the Shotover River, the Kawarau River and Lake Hayes Estate.
The land is prone to 100-year floods, but the landowners had included mitigation measures.
The plan change would provide for 758 residential dwellings, educational and recreational facilities, open space, walking tracks and cycleways and protection of an early settlers' cottage.
Ms Page said a summary of the submissions lodged would be prepared.
"This will then be publicly notified for further submissions. After the close of further submissions, the council will appoint a hearing committee to assess the plan change and the submissions lodged to it. The committee will hold a public hearing to enable submitters to present their submissions," she said.
After deliberation, a decision would be issued by the council.
Submitters could appeal that decision to the Environment Court.
A total of 54 submissions had been received by yesterday.
Submissions close at 5pm today.
