A new proposal - the Glenpanel project - has been fast-tracked by the Government, joining Flint’s Park and Flint’s Park West, as projects on Ladies Mile, which are bypassing the Resource Management Act process. The Te Putahi project is looking at 748 homes, while the other two combined are planning up to nearly 700 homes.
In a submission to the fast-track consenting panel, the Queenstown Lakes District Council said it could see the long-term benefits of the Flint’s Park project but had concerns around the flexibility of the applicant’s proposed framework to allow for the uncertainty of how the development would progress, how it would be developed and by whom.
In the submission the council took the view the project took an overly flexible approach that failed to demonstrate clear outcomes in terms of infrastructure servicing, final housing densities and typologies and hazard mitigation in respect of slope stability and alluvial fan risk.
The council said consenting the development without regard for the Te Putahi Ladies Mile master plan and plan provisions might create significant issues with establishing a well-functioning, integrated urban environment across the wider land.
"Therefore, while the council considers that this development has the potential to deliver significant long-term benefits for the Queenstown Lakes District community in the delivery of housing in a shortened timeframe, this development needs to be carefully weighed up against the potential adverse effects of the proposal on the character and amenity of the rural lifestyle zone, the potential adverse effects of the proposal on the rural landscape and an outstanding natural feature and compliance with the Te Putahi Ladies Mile master plan and proposed plan provisions adopted by council in June 2022."
Flint’s Park envisages either 384 residential units, or, if a proposed primary school is constructed, 179 residential units on 15.6ha of land.
Minister of Transport Michael Wood was concerned about the development and its impact on the capacity of State Highway 6.
"Additional vehicle movements associated with the proposed development in this location will adversely affect the functionality of the highway. The applicant’s traffic modelling shows that for the morning peak heading towards Queenstown, SH6 is operating at capacity. As a result, to maintain the functionality of the highway and manage the effects of ongoing development, mode shift at an unprecedented level is necessary," he said in a submission.
The Otago Regional Council also raised questions over stormwater and how it could be disposed. The council also said the applicant had not addressed the issue of building in a outstanding natural feature area. Slope Hill is a natural feature area under the district plan.
Flint’s Park developer Mark Tylden told the Otago Daily Times earlier this year the neighbouring Flint’s Park developments would give effect to the council’s vision for the northwestern end of Ladies Mile, by providing medium-density residential development, with a more diverse range of housing types, and links to the active travel network and public transport infrastructure.
