Freehold land at 11 to 21 Suffolk St, Arrowtown, will be transferred by the Queenstown Lakes District Council for the development of rented community housing, despite vehement opposition during the council's public forum yesterday.
Councillors resolved the transfer was subject to confirmation of funding from central Government, as well as reaching a suitable agreement with the Arrowtown Rugby Club about its continued access to its facilities until an alternative is available.
The transfer agreement also contains a provision which, in the event the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust is unable to proceed with the proposed development, will return the land to the council at no cost. The provision will be included as a covenant on the title.
The council also resolved to continue to work with the Arrowtown Community and Sports Centre Inc to establish a clubrooms and sports facility on Jack Reid Park.
The issue of the council giving the Suffolk St land to the housing trust to build 10 rental housing units, including two units for elderly residents, was opposed by most of the Arrowtown residents who spoke during the council meeting's public forum yesterday.
Mark Kramer asked when the council would meets its affordable housing obligations. Mr Kramer asked if there was not a better means to meet the objective without ''squandering'' an ''essential'' block of land and an asset for the future.
The council was criticised for not asking the right questions during community consultation, and told it should have asked residents if it should dispose of the land and, if so, what the community wants to do with the land.
Arrowtown Community and Sports Centre chairman Murray Bennett told councillors his society was prepared to formally discuss its community and sports centre proposal, to be located on either the council's freehold land on Suffolk St, or Jack Reid Park.
