The reserve encroachment by businesses in Frankton's
industrial zone - the area for a proposed Queenstown Lakes
District Council revocation of local purpose reserve
status, creating a freehold subdivision - is outlined in
yellow. Photo supplied.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has moved to
resolve the issue of private businesses' storage and parking
encroaching on council reserve land next to the Frankton
industrial zone.
Last May, the outgoing council threatened to build a fence
and gave business owners on Margaret Pl and Glenda Dr 12
months to vacate the reserve - between the industrial zone,
the Lower Shotover delta and State Highway 6.
The new council has backed away from that demand but the
issue dominated the agenda of Tuesday's community services
committee meeting.
The committee, chaired by Cr Cath Gilmour, resolved on legal
advice to publicly notify its plan to revoke the section's
local purpose (beautification) reserve status and subdivide
it into a freehold lot.
A hearing for any submissions will be chaired by two
independent commissioners appointed by council chief
executive Debra Lawson.
If the reserve status is revoked, the council will lease the
lot with a requirement that tenants will vacate if the land
is required for public use. Conditions of the lease will
include planting, watering and maintenance.
Tenants would pay commercial market rates and a deposit to
cover the cost of subdivision and consent fees, which could
run to thousands of dollars.
In his report, council community services general manager
Paul Wilson said the resolution had the potential "to be
opposed", and to a lesser extent could be "tested legally".
"The nature of compromise means not everyone's going to be
happy. I think it's got enough give and take on both sides to
work," Cr Gilmour said, adding that "if it works we get a
win-win for the community".
Although in favour of the lease option, Cr Simon
Stammers-Smith abstained from voting on the motion.
matt.stewart@odt.co.nz
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