Council lead planner Anita Vanstone said, in an ODT article recently, the fact the Queenstown Lakes district was 97% located within an outstanding natural landscape or an outstanding natural feature was a ''really big constraint for us, in terms of development potential''.
Upper Clutha Environmental Society secretary Julian Haworth said there was enough residential land zoned to cope with demand through to 2058.
''It is a mantra [developers] repeat that 97% of our district is outstanding natural landscape or outstanding natural feature and we definitely need more of that, but it is just rubbish.''
Mr Haworth said the surface area of Queenstown Lakes district was about 9375sqkm and 3% of that equated to 284sqkm.
''You can fit Wellington into that,'' he said.
Mr Haworth said the district economy relied on protecting outstanding natural landscapes and features and to allow development in these areas would be ''adversely affect our economy''.
Mr Haworth also welcomed the recent decision by Queenstown Environment Court judge Jon Jackson in ordering the council to re-notify submissions from two Arthurs Point landowners, Gertrude Saddlery Ltd and Larchmont Developments Ltd, and his direction that re-zoning of their land to low-density residential be suspended.
The case involved moving the outstanding natural landscape boundary in Arthurs Point.
The council has yet to decide if it will appeal the decision.
