Hundreds of Central Otago residents have had a say on how they want their region to grow during the next 30 years.
The Central Otago District Council received 572 resident surveys on the Vincent ward’s spatial plan.
A further 20 to 30 emails and letters were received with additional comments and ideas.
The plan addresses the challenges and opportunities for growth and land use in the Alexandra Basin, Omakau and Ophir during the next 30 years.
Council principal policy planner Ann Rodgers said there were three options being considered for the Alexandra-Clyde area, and there was one preferred option for the Omakau-Ophir area.
She said the Vincent ward had a population of about 10,500, and projections suggested it would increase to 16,000 in the next 30 years.
‘‘It equates to having to find where to put about 2500 houses in the next 30 years to help cope with projected growth.’’
Each option being considered accommodated the estimated number of houses needed for the projected growth, but in different ways, she said.
Of those who provided feedback, a large portion were lifestyle and rural residents, and the rest were people living in the various townships.
Those who responded were aged between 30 and 69.
Input was also received from people aged under 20 through targeted engagement with Dunstan High School and Omakau School pupils, as well as the Central Otago Youth Council.
