Council to oppose 850-home development in rural Canterbury town
From reporter Amber Allott:
A North Canterbury council will oppose a subdivision that could transform a rural village into a town, but developers say the development will provide new homes and an economic boost to the district.
Earlier this month, the Waimakariri District Council put a private plan change request for an 850-house development at Ohoka out for public submissions.
Rolleston Industrial Developments – owned by the Carter Group’s Philip and Tim Carter – wants to rezone 155.9 hectares of farmland between Whites, Bradleys, and Mill roads to residential land.
The subdivision would be called Ohoka Estate, built in stages with most sections between 500 and 1000 square metres. It would also feature shops, a public square, and a school or retirement village.
Waimakariri District mayor Dan Gordon confirmed the council would be making a submission opposing the private plan change, and “urbanising part of Ohoka”.
Since the council had decided to make a submission, the application would now be handled by independent commissioners.
The council had hired an independent lawyer and specialists to help prepare the submission, he said, and the draft would be considered at their August 2 meeting. It would be publicly available on the council website closer to that date.
Due to public interest in the private plan change, the council also had someone on hand to help explain the process and give advice on how to lodge a submission.
Several of Ohoka’s 600 residents had voiced concerns a big development would destroy the little village’s quaint, rural nature, and said the sudden influx of new residents would put a strain on existing infrastructure.
Ohoka is currently home to mostly larger homes on lifestyle blocks, plus some smaller properties, a domain, community hall, primary school, petrol station and small church. House prices range from about $1.2 million to $3.5m.
Analysis by the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri district councils, released last August, also found greater Christchurch would need 77,000 more homes in the next 30 years.
The Carter Group’s Philip Carter said they believed it was important there were housing opportunities in Waimakariri for both new and current residents.
“Our proposed subdivision will not only provide supply for new houses, it will also give the district an economic boost.”
They would talk to local iwi and the community to get their input as the development progressed, he said.
“We are very conscious of the high-quality village atmosphere of Ohoka, with its extensive large-scale trees and streams, and our proposed development will keep existing trees and use rural style roads and fencing.”
Carter said they were proposing a good mix of section sizes, including larger sections of 0.5 to one hectare close to smaller sections, “all of which will have rural outlooks”.
“We want to ensure Ohoka Estate is well-connected to the existing Ohoka Village and that we maintain Ohoka's special rural character.”
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Anzac Day service delayed at Culverden
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A North Canterbury community will have to wait an extra year before hosting an Anzac Day service.
Fundraising for a new war memorial for Culverden has proven to be tougher than anticipated, says Culverden Community Committee member Craig Ritchie.
Culverden was due to host this year’s Amuri area Anzac Day service, but the Waiau community has stepped up as this year’s host.
The committee launched a fundraising drive in September last year, after the memorial design, estimated to cost $150,000, was approved with the support of the Hurunui District Council.
‘‘We never really understood how difficult it is to apply for funding,’’ Ritchie said.
‘‘We would have liked to have had it up and running this year.
‘‘We have had good support from contractors, who have agreed to keep to the same quotes for the time being.’’
As the Culverden Community Committee is not a registered entity, it has made the process more difficult in applying for grants.
The memorial design is based on a corten steel memorial at Leyland in England, with the shape of a soldier cut out and standing 9m high.
The Culverden version will be 6m high, with a poppy and the words ‘‘Lest We Forget’’ on the front.
The memorial will have lights to light it up at night.
It will be placed in the Rutherford Reserve, next to Amuri Area School.
The Hurunui District Council’s Amuri Community Committee, has approved the use of $56,000 in funds held in trust from the sale of the Culverden Drill Hall in the 1980s.
The committee has received $5000 in donations from the community and a $10,000 grant from the Trusts Community Foundation.
The Hurunui District Council has applied to the Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund for $50,000 on the committee’s behalf.
Ritchie is hopeful the council will fund the balance, which will allow the war memorial to be ready for next year’s Anzac Day service.
Amuri area Anzac Day services alternate between Waiau, Rotherham and Culverden.
Culverden last hosted the Anzac Day service in 2021, with the community gathering at the Culverden Volunteer Fire Brigade rooms, before crossing the busy Mountainview Road to a set of memorial gates.
■ The Amuri area Anzac Day service will be held at Waiau. Gather at the Waiau Hall at 9.50am, for a 10am service, before a short walk to the memorial and back to the hall for morning tea.
The Culverden Community Committee is organising an autumn cull cow drive as a fundraiser for the war memorial fund.
Contact Craig Ritchie on 027-4705388 for more information.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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