Urban Growth Boundaries

A key action identified in the Growth Management Strategy will go before the Queenstown Lakes District Council strategy committee next week, QLDC senior policy analyst Mark Rushworth said.

“The committee will be asked to approve a draft discussion document on a proposed urban growth boundary plan change,” Mr Rushworth said.

The council wanted communities throughout the district to give feedback on the proposal, which involved a number of different tools to identify the extent of acceptable urban development for all the different settlements.

“The idea is that it will promote the best use of development inside the boundaries, possibly buffer settlements with a green belt and ensure against urban sprawl. It’s better all round planning for our townships into the future,” Mr Rushworth said.

Together with the benefits of introducing the plan change the council also wanted people to think about the risks.

“We are talking about potentially prescriptive zoning, which could be contested,” Mr Rushworth said.

If the committee agreed to consult on the discussion document, the council would seek feedback on how the boundaries should be defined, what range of tools should be utilised and which settlements could benefit from a plan change.

“Pending the committee’s approval we will gather feedback, report that back to council and then, depending on the feedback, consider whether to progress the plan change,” Mr Rushworth said.

The draft discussion document would be available with the council agenda from today on the council website www.qldc.govt.nz