Arrowtown residents rally against proposed fast-track housing development
Residents of Arrowtown are protesting a proposed large-scale housing development, arguing it bypasses local planning and threatens infrastructure. The Queenstown mayor has expressed concerns that the government's fast-track process undermines community-led spatial planning.
Why it matters
Illustrates the tension between government-led housing development initiatives and local community concerns regarding urban sprawl and infrastructure capacity.
Queenstown's mayor says the government's fast-track process is allowing developers to sidestep years of planning work , leaving councils and communities to pick up the bill.
It comes as Arrowtown residents rally against a proposed housing development they claim could choke roads, harm local tourism and ultimately be a "folly of history".
Ridgeburn Ltd is seeking fast-track consent to build a neighbouring community rivalling the historic township in size - comprising 1210 houses and a commercial precinct between Lake Hayes and the Kawarau River.
A meeting about the proposal organised by the newly formed group Queenstown Smart Growth Initiative (QSGI) drew more than 120 residents to the Arrowtown Rugby Club on Tuesday night.
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