Designer questions land affordability

The suitability of Wanaka's ''Northlake'' land for promoting housing affordability has been questioned.

A group of Wanaka residents has appealed to the Enviroment Court against private plan change 45-Northlake Special Zone (PC45), which was approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council last year and enables the development of a 1500-lot subdivision.

Representing the appellants at this week's appeal hearing in Wanaka, urban designer Ian Munro said he was not confident the plan change would make ''any difference'' to any perceived housing affordability issues in the town.

The undulating nature of the PC45 land made it more costly to develop, it was ''encumbered by landscape sensitivities'' requiring expensive interventions and it had ''too much amenity'' to be characterised as affordable land.

Without knowing the ''nature'' of the proposed 20 affordable lots, he could not assess whether the proposed sale price of $160,000 could be considered affordable.

''It might well be that ... that's just the regular going price for that kind of land in Wanaka anyway.''

Additionally, PC45's affordable housing component was just 1.25% of the likely yield, a ''drop in the bucket''.

In evidence submitted earlier to the court, Mr Munro recommended a ''lower and slower approach'' to the PC45 land to improve its integration with Wanaka and downscale the extent of development enabled at present.

In an overview of legal submissions for the appellants, lawyer Jan Caunter said Wanaka did not need land rezoned for residential development at present and if it did, there were ''much better alternatives'' than Northlake.

The hearing is expected to conclude today with planner David Serjeant appearing for the appellants, followed by a site visit.

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