Criticisms of planning for future housing ‘unfair’ – Waimakariri mayor

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Criticism of the Waimakariri District Council’s housing growth planning is disappointing, mayor Dan Gordon says.

In a recommendation to decline a private plan change request to rezone Ohoka land, independent commissioners Cindy Robinson and Ros Day-Cleavin were critical of the council for not making enough provision for housing growth.

But Gordon said the criticism was "unfair".

"I guess they are entitled to come to whatever conclusions they like, but I can assure you the council does have enough provision to meet short to long term land capacity."

Under the existing Waimakariri District Plan, there are 321 hectares available for development, which equated to capacity for about 5900 new houses.

Based on its growth model, which was prepared under the requirements set out in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, the council projected demand for 5600 new houses over the next 10 years.

Under the Proposed District Plan, notified in November 2021, the council believed it had provision for rezoning of land to cater for more than 20,000 new houses.

The proposed District Plan has been incorporated into the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan, which has just finished consultation.

The council put forward this evidence as part of its plan change assessment, with the applicant, Rolleston Industrial Developments Ltd, arguing the council’s model "overstated capacity’".

But Gordon said other councils, including the Selwyn District Council, used the same methodology.

"The model will always be subject to variables and changing market demands across a 30 year period."

Rolleston Industrial Developments Ltd also presented evidence suggesting land in northeast Kaiapoi, which has been included in the spatial plan, was unsuitable for development.

The land in question was deemed red zone by the government after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, with payouts offered to property owners to allow them to move on.

A rural zoning designation was then imposed by the Waimakariri District Council, which has been retained in the Proposed District Plan, with the council also designating it for possible future development.

Specific zoning outcomes were being considered as part of the District Plan Review, due to be completed in June next year.

The costs of developing the former red zone land were likely to be high, and a potential developer would need to be aware of the constraints specific to the area, a council spokesperson said.

"Any flooding or other environmental considerations would need to be accounted for in any development plans."

But developers have already expressed interest in former red zone land, including a consortium led by Kaiapoi developer Jedd Pearce, which is exploring the possibility of a marina development including apartment style living.

Gordon said the experience reinforced the need for a moratorium on private plan changes while a council is going through a District Plan Review.

"All of that consultation can be compromised by a private plan change."

Gordon raised his concerns with Outgoing Environment Minister David Parker last year and planned to raise the issue again when a new Environment Minister is appointed.

"Changes were signalled in the Resource Management Act reforms, but the incoming Government has signalled it will take a different direction, so we will wait to see what that is."

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