Overview

The Longview Development in Lake Hāwea by Universal Developments is a Special Housing Area (SHA) consisting of 400 residential units as approved by QLDC. Development is currently underway. A large proportion of the Hawea community expressed the concerns about the proposed SHA in Lake Hawea from the outset primarily due to issues with wastewater (sewage) management and the pressure on transport infrastructure.

There is nothing that can be done at this point to stop this development going ahead.

In March 2021, Universal Developments successfully sought approval from QLDC to amend the deed in relation to this development enabling them to increase the price of the house and land packages, and increase the allowance of the sale of sections without associated build contracts.

Currently, Universal Developments is appealing the Proposed District Plan decision not to increase the Urban Growth Boundary. If they win their appeal, it will not increase the size of the SHA, it will enable Universal Developments to develop land south of cemetery road in addition to the SHA. I other words their words it would allow further development outside of the constrains of the SHA deed. Please see our Township Re-Zoning page for more information.

HCA Involvement

The Hawea Community Association represented the community, making submissions and communicating to decision makers at every opportunity to attempt to ensure the community’s concerns were heard.

The SHA received Resource Consent and is going ahead with 400 sections (SH190005), which is a significantly smaller number of sections than the 2,000 originally proposed.

Link to QLDC page for more information

Universal Developments has also been refused the re-zoning they requested in the proposed district plan on the grounds of inadequate infrastructure. Universal is appealing this decision.

What/Why is a Special Housing Area?

An SHA is proposed to be an area of land suitable for new housing, where development can be fast-tracked under the more permissive consenting powers provided by the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act (HASHAA).

Special Housing area’ are set up to boost housing supply and improve housing affordability by facilitating development that meets the needs of the growing population.

Reasons for Opposition

A large proportion of the Hawea community expressed the following concerns about the proposed SHA in Lake Hawea from the outset:

Wastewater & Septic: A sewage system that already couldn’t cope and had been non-compliant for part of every year since 2012. The only proposed upgrade to that system was building a pipeline to Project Pure in Wanaka which a large proportion of Hawea’s population also had concerns about. QLDC has since admitted that the pipeline to Project Pure is not feasible. QLDC is currently working on a short term solution to Hawea’s wastewater problems. See our Three Waters page for more information.
Commuting:The majority of people living in Lake Hawea work in Wanaka. It is a 17 minute commute to work in Wanaka (can be more depending on where you can park), and not considered environmentally friendly to significantly increase the population such a distance away from jobs and the majority of facilities and services.
Transport Infrastructure: There have been and continue to be concerns about how the current transport infrastructure will cope with the large increase in population and therefor traffic. There are proposals for a Roundabout at the corner of Domain and Capell, and there are fears that proposed roundabout will not be adequate to cope with the inevitable increase in traffic created by the SHA.
Urban Growth Boundary: There was unanimous community support for the urban growth boundary to remain north of cemetery road and there has been significant evidence that there is enough space within the urban growth boundary north of cemetery road to provide for 30 years population growth.

The Legislation, the Accord and Lead Policy

QLDC and Central Government entered into the Queenstown Lakes District Housing Accord back in October 2014. An updated Accord was signed in July 2017. The Accord applies district-wide.

The Accord includes a series of agreed targets relating to land supply and dwelling consents. It also allows Council the ability to recommend SHA’s to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

On 16 September 2016, the Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2016 came into effect. This extended the HASHAA by an additional three years. This means the deadline for establishing SHAs and the date of repeal of the HASHAA has been extended to 16 September 2019 and 16 September 2021 respectively.

In 8 August 2019, the Council also adopted an amended Lead Policy to guide how the Council will implement the HASHAA.

The Housing Accord

On the 23 October 2014, QLDC entered into the Queenstown Lakes District Housing Accord (the Accord) with the Government. An updated Accord was signed on the 12 July 2017.

“The Accord sets out the Governments and the Council’s commitment to work together to facilitate an increase in land and housing supply, and improve housing affordability and suitability in the Queenstown Lakes District”.

Under the Accord, QLDC has the ability to recommend SHAs to the Minister of Building and Housing. The Accord includes agreed aims and targets related to land supply and dwelling consents.

The Lead Policy

The Lead Policy is viewed as a live document that can be updated, by way of a resolution of the Council. On 8 August 2019, the Council adopted an amended Lead Policy, to guide our implementation of the HASHAA.