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QUEENSTOWN COUNCIL WANTS $56 MILLION FOR DEVELOPMENT

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April, 2017

Queenstowns council wants to borrow $56 million from the government
to spark the development of at least 3000 new homes.
The authority has submitted four bids to the governments $1 billion
infrastructure fund.
It wants cash for a town centre bypass, a host of transport upgrades at
Ladies Mile, a new road to Quail Rise and to put Kingston on the
development map.
Council boss Mike Theelen says: Accessing some of the governments $1b
fund would give us options by providing a new funding stream, easing
some of the cost that would otherwise fall on ratepayers.
The loans for the infrastructure projects would be paid from future
development contributions.
Ladies Mile, Quail Rise, Kingston and central Queenstown are identified as
key development areas.
Millions would be spent in the Ladies Mile area, enabling about 1000 new
homes.
Projects include better public transport, a Lake Hayes Estate roundabout
and water system upgrades.
There are already 332 retirement homes planned for the area.
A new road linking the State Highway 6 Hawthorne Drive roundabout to
Quail Rises Ferry Hill Drive could open up Quail Rise South, enabling
1100 new homes.
It would help ease problems at the Tucker Beach Rd turn-off.
Quail Rise resident Greg Thompson said that would be welcomed with
open arms and hes not concerned about suburban sprawl.
Its all flat land there, he says.
It is infill but weve got to put houses somewhere, otherwise you shut the
door and say Queenstowns full.
A new pedestrian cycleway under State Highway 6 is also mooted.
In Kingston, the money would be used for water supply, wastewater and
stormwater infrastructure.
That, along with the special zoning of land, would enable developers to
build 950 new homes. There are about 300 there now.
A long-mooted central Queenstown bypass would enable intensified
housing.
Theelen says nothing was set in stone. We are a high growth area and
the community and government alike expect us to take every opportunity
to meet the challenges of that growth.
A government decision is expected in June.

(Source: Mountain Scene)