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Proposal put forward to make developers in Queenstown and Wānaka pay for affordable housing
The Queenstown Lakes District has taken the first step to force developers to contribute to community housing in an effort to combat an affordability crisis.
The region is already considered a leader in developing affordable housing within New Zealand after creating the Queenstown Lakes Community … View moreThe Queenstown Lakes District has taken the first step to force developers to contribute to community housing in an effort to combat an affordability crisis.
The region is already considered a leader in developing affordable housing within New Zealand after creating the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust in 2007.
Now the Queenstown Lakes District Council has become the first regional authority to propose a mandatory contribution on all housing developments under the district plan.
Under the proposal, known as “inclusionary zoning”, all residential subdivisions in urban areas would be required to contribute 5% of the estimated sales value of serviced lots or, for those with more than 20 lots, a 5% land contribution.
The 25 apartments are among the first of up to 4000 Housing Minister Megan Woods hopes will go through the $400m Progressive Home Ownership scheme.
Residential subdivisions in larger lifestyle blocks would contribute 1% and a contribution for units would be calculated according to floorspace.
Residential flats, social or affordable housing and retirement villages would be exempt.
During a council meeting to begin the process of including the provisions in the proposed district plan, mayor Jim Boult said housing affordability was the most difficult issue the council faced.
The proposal would go through a public submission process and likely be contested by developers in the Environment Court.
Proceeding with the plan was a “watershed development”, but the council should continue to look at other mechanisms to increase the supply of affordable housing, he said.
Economist Shamubeel Eaqub, who helped author the plan, said house prices in Queenstown increased by 40% in the last two years, in a house market that was already “extremely hot”.
Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures released on Thursday showed the median house price in the district to be $1.2 million in July.
The council needed to increase housing supply and target housing towards people on lower incomes to ensure equitable supply, Eaqub said.
“The housing market is pretty broken whatever we do, so we need to pull on all the levers at the same time,” he said.
Councillor Quentin Smith said the average household income to house price ratio in the district was an “extraordinary” 17.2 to 1 – about 3.5 times higher than the New Zealand average.
“The average household earner in this district could never own the average house under the current model.
“This won’t be an easy process, but we need to try,” he said.
Cr Niamh Shaw said similar inclusionary zoning operated in London, Melbourne, Whistler and Aspen.
Community Housing Trust executive officer Julie Scott said the council had been negotiating a form of inclusionary zoning with developers for about 20 years.
The first deed was signed in 2003 with the Jacks Point developers and covered about 5% of the subdivision value. Of that, about $4m was used to buy land at Lake Hayes Estate and build 27 homes.
In Shotover Country it received enough land to build 44 homes.
Under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act developers were required to pay contributions of up to 12.5% in the district. The Act has since been repealed.
Inclusionary zoning was behind the trust’s success, Scott said.
“We are the envy of every other community housing provider in the country.”
The trust has helped 243 households into housing and had a waiting list of nearly 800 households.
It has developed 109 homes through inclusionary zoning and has 215 in the pipeline across the district – the majority achieved through inclusionary zoning.
The proposed plan change would formalise the process.
Kinloch resident John Glover told the council the zoning would be a tax and was “really quite perverse”.
“What you’re actually doing is taxing those who are actually providing housing.”
Business and tourism operators whose rapid growth in the district was a significant factor underlying the housing shortage should be part of the solution, he said.
Many ski fields were having their best year ever, but they were not being asked to pay under the policy.
He doubted the policy would fit within the scope of the Resource Management Act and said it would cost hundreds of thousands of ratepayer dollars to defend in courts.
Instead, the council should use the Rating Act to raise money and support the trust.
New Year's festival Rhythm & Alps announces first lineup including Dope Lemon and Sampa the Great
Australian acts Dope Lemon and rapper Sampa The Great are amongst a bill of about 40 artists heading to the South Island for the three-day Rhythm & Alps festival to bring in the new year.
Dance music favourite Andy C and Manchester DJ Bou will fly over from the UK with drum and bass DJ … View moreAustralian acts Dope Lemon and rapper Sampa The Great are amongst a bill of about 40 artists heading to the South Island for the three-day Rhythm & Alps festival to bring in the new year.
Dance music favourite Andy C and Manchester DJ Bou will fly over from the UK with drum and bass DJ Harriet Jaxxon.
Acts from Brazil, Sweden and Germany are also scheduled to perform alongside homegrown talents including Concord Dawn, Flaxxies, Kora, and breakout Soundcloud rapper Lil Bubblegum.
“This year we have focused on a very diverse lineup and building probably the newest and most dynamic stage in the country,” festival organiser Alex Turnbull said.
The festival runs from December 29 to 31 at Cardrona Valley, Wānaka. A second lineup announcement is expected in late August. Tickets are available now.
Former TV and film producer launches NZ's first e-bike festival
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Having created some of New Zealand’s most successful television shows and films Dave Gibson’s latest production is Cyclorama, New Zealand’s first e-bike festival.
Gibson spent four years as chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission before moving to … View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Having created some of New Zealand’s most successful television shows and films Dave Gibson’s latest production is Cyclorama, New Zealand’s first e-bike festival.
Gibson spent four years as chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission before moving to rural Queenstown to join his partner and take up e-biking.
“It only takes me 15 minutes to get to Arrowtown and you can go to people’s places for dinner, and you’re not even sweating,” he said.
While enthusiastically researching his new pastime on the internet he came across an-e-bike festival in Verbier, Switzerland, and another in Flachau, Austria.
“They are these high mountain, winter resort-type places and this has suddenly become the summer thing to do.”
The similarities with Queenstown were obvious.
“This is a really great place for it. I thought that if I didn’t do it someone else would.”
The area is increasingly becoming known for its cycle trail offerings with hundreds of kilometres of off-road trails, mountainbike events and tours available.
A recent report commissioned by businessman Rod Drury – another local biking enthusiast – found biking in the region could become almost 50% of the size of the ski visitor economy by 2026.
Gibson, who created and ran Gibson Group producing films such as The Silent One and television programmes including Public Eye, The Strip, Duggan and The Insider’s Guide to Happiness. pulled together a team of event professionals and e-bike enthusiasts to create Cyclorama.
The inaugural festival, which is having a delayed launch after being scuppered by Covid-19 regulations last year, is scheduled for Labour Weekend in October. It includes six separate events, all non-competitive, and with a focus on fun.
Most are self-guiding and include enjoying the most of the region’s wine and food offerings.
The Tour de Gourmet is a progressive degustation-style ride in the Wakatipu Basin, the Hop Trail visits craft breweries, and Peddling Pinot includes lunch with renowned Gibbston winemaker Grant Taylor.
The Ginology trail includes gin tasting, and blending your own gin at a taxidermist studio.
If participants don’t feel as in control of their e-bike as they should afterwards, there is an option to be picked up and returned to Arrowtown, for a small charge.
Other rides include a bird-watching tour around Lake Hayes and a “Ride to the Sky” with local e-MTB guide Shay Muddle up Mt Rosa, one of his favourite and hard to access rides.
Gibson anticipated hundreds would book for the rides and hoped many more would visit the e-biking hub on Arrowtown’s Butler’s Green, which would include bike retailers, free tips and tricks sessions, a bike doctor, bike jumps, coffee and food.
“You spend a day on a bike in nice surroundings with a bunch of people and have some nice food and a glass of something, and have a good time.
“That’s the vibe.”
There would be no requirement to wear lycra and people of all ages were already booking their spot, he said.
And while those with regular bikes were welcome, the festival was intended for people with e-bikes, he said.
The large and growing number of trails in the region meant there was plenty of scope for the festival to continue to evolve in the future.
Queenstown makes TIME list of 'world's greatest places' to visit in 2022
Queenstown is among the best places in the world to visit as people get used to living and travelling with Covid-19 and hit the roads – and skies – en masse.
At least that’s the view of TIME magazine, which included New Zealand’s adventure capital in the 2022 instalment of its “world’s… View moreQueenstown is among the best places in the world to visit as people get used to living and travelling with Covid-19 and hit the roads – and skies – en masse.
At least that’s the view of TIME magazine, which included New Zealand’s adventure capital in the 2022 instalment of its “world’s greatest places” list.
The New York-based magazine and website compiled the 50-strong list using nominations from its international network of correspondents and contributors, paying particular attention to destinations offering new and exciting experiences.
Queenstown was described as “both a destination in its own right and a fantastic base to explore the region’s diverse landscapes”.
New luxury boutique hotel The Carlin – where guests can even get a massage on the toilet – was highlighted.
“High rollers can opt for the Skyhome suite – its seven bedrooms make up the largest penthouse in the southern hemisphere,” TIME said.
Each suite in the hotel, which bills itself as “more than five-star”, has its own outdoor fire and spa pool, and a kitchen where private chefs can whip up a meal.
Homes & Villas by Marriott, launched in June, won praise for its “stylish multibedroom apartments and houses”.
Kingpin Queenstown – a sprawling new entertainment hub featuring escape and karaoke rooms, pool, bowling, virtual reality and arcade games and a restaurant and bar – also scored a mention, as did the three Great Walks within a couple of hours driving distance to the town, namely the Milford Track.
Mention was also made of Invivo, the winery which famously collaborated with Sarah Jessica Parker and Graham Norton and announced plans to launch what has been dubbed “the world’s first winery airline” later this year. Fares for the Auckland to Queenstown flights are set to include a visit to local wineries.
Other destinations on the list include Australia’s Fremantle and Great Barrier Reef, “ecotourism hot spot” Kerala in India, the arty Setouchi Islands in Japan, the “year-round playground of Park City in the US state of Utah, and Portree in Scotland with its winning combo of whiskey and wilderness.
Urgent repairs closing Luggate’s Red Bridge this Wednesday
The Luggate Red Bridge, on SH8A near Wānaka, will be closed this Wednesday morning (July 13) between 9am and 1pm for urgent work at one bridge abutment.
Anyone using SH8A will need to take the detour route or travel outside of the 9am to 1pm closure time, Waka Kotahi Central Otago maintenance … View moreThe Luggate Red Bridge, on SH8A near Wānaka, will be closed this Wednesday morning (July 13) between 9am and 1pm for urgent work at one bridge abutment.
Anyone using SH8A will need to take the detour route or travel outside of the 9am to 1pm closure time, Waka Kotahi Central Otago maintenance contract manager Peter Standring said.
The bridge was closed for two days last week for scaffolding/staging to be installed to enable access to the bridge’s structure, ready for upcoming repairs.
While installing the scaffolding, Aspiring Highways’ crew spotted the need for some urgent work.
“This stage of work was foreseen at the outset of this project, but the extent of the damage found has required it to be carried out sooner than originally programmed,” Standring said.
“We are doing our best to minimise the time it will take and aim to stick to our overall programme after this work is completed. Thanks to all drivers for taking care on the detour route, or working their journeys around it.”
Emergency vehicles will be accommodated at short notice.
Detour information for car drivers:
Detour via Kane Rd, Camphill Rd and SH6. Please note this detour will add approximately 30 minutes to your journey time.
Detour for 50MAX drivers:
50MAX drivers can travel via Kane Rd, Domain Rd, Cemetery Rd and Capell Ave.
Detour for HPMV drivers:
HPMV drivers will need to travel outside of these times.
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