Three more special housing areas for the Wakatipu are a step closer.
Proposed developments in Arthurs Point, Onslow Rd and Shotover Country will be recommended to Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith for fast-track status after gaining unanimous approval at the Queenstown Lakes District Council's regular meeting yesterday.
The three areas would deliver almost 200 residential units. A fourth SHA proposal backed by councillors in June - an 18-section development in Highview Tce - has been dropped by its backers.
The 95-lot Shotover Country proposal does not have the support of the Otago Regional Council, which wants further analysis of flood and liquefaction risk in the area.
But Cr Mel Gazzard said the flooding risk was extremely low.
''It would take a flood of biblical proportions - there would have to be 4m of water in downtown Beach St.''
District plan manager Matthew Paetz said independent expert advice would be sought on the issue, and if the proposal was approved by Dr Smith as a special housing area (SHA), that aspect would be considered by council commissioners with ORC input.
Councillors also gave qualified support for a retirement village in Arrowtown to be given SHA status.
The Arrowtown Lifestyle Retirement Village proposal, received by the council early this month, is planned for a 20ha site in McDonnell Rd.
Eight people spoke in favour of the proposal during the meeting's public forum - two of them representatives of the company promoting it.
Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association board member John Lapsley said the project had the strong backing of his association and the Arrowtown Village Association.
It was a one-off, so there was no risk of the village being wrecked by the ''ugly spread'' of suburban development.
Another resident, Jim Ryan, said the proposal should not become an Arrowtown boundary issue.
''If the serial objectors had their way, we wouldn't have the magnificent facilities of Millbrook and The Hills.''
Susie Todd urged councillors to ''waste no time'' in approving the facility.
There was desperate demand for it because of the district's rapidly growing and ageing population, and other aged-care facilities in the lower South Island were full.
Arrowtown councillor Scott Stevens said overwhelming community support for the proposal contrasted with almost unanimous opposition to three SHAs proposed for the village earlier in the year.
Residents had the right to ''pick and choose'' which developments they wanted.
Councillors will receive a further report on the proposal before deciding whether to recommend it to Dr Smith as an SHA.
