A "subtle balancing act'' is how the man in charge of future planning for Queenstown has described his job.
Former Dunedin City Council infrastructure manager Tony Avery took up his position with Queenstown Lakes District Council last month.
He told the Otago Daily Times this week the proposed district plan, on which a panel of commissioners is due to start hearing submissions next week, was a key focus.
Mr Avery said he recognised his 50-odd strong team had an important part to play in managing the future growth and direction of the region and described its role as one of "stewardship''.
"We are making decisions today that will have a life of 50 to 100 years. As a planner we have to understand that context. The district plan is about trying to help manage the development pressures we are facing.''
Anyone living in the district knew what these were, particularly around traffic and affordable housing, he said.
Themes of the proposed plan included consolidating growth within existing urban areas, limiting sprawl into rural areas, managing overall growth and looking at restrictions and controls already in place.
A critical component for planners was protecting the landscape and environment, the reason so many people flocked to Queenstown.
That needed to be coupled with policy allowing for development.
His team was in part working with the "hand they've been dealt'', he said.
"From a planning point of view it is understanding where Queenstown is at now, appreciating the pressures that brought it to this point and focusing on how we manage it going forward.
"There are all sorts of views as to decisions that could have or should have been made [previously],'' he said.
Another challenge was the area's "phenomenal growth.''
A record number of consent applications was a pressure point, something he was working on.
QLDC had brought in outside contractors to help but costs limited that as an option.
He was commuting from Dunedin at present but was on the lookout for a Queenstown property, Mr Aver said.
He was acutely aware of supply issues.
"Know of any good bargains?''
- Louise Scott
