#queenstown — Public Fediverse posts

Under the Luxon government there's been a rush of developers using fast-track legislation to bypass local council planning, sticking huge housing developments into unserviced and unsuitable locations.

Ridgeburn is one of those.

Developer Kurt Gibbons plans to bung 1,210 houses and a commercial precinct including offices and bars onto rural land at Morven Ferry outside Queenstown. There's zero infrastructure in the area, traffic is already horrendous and locals are vehemently opposed.

After initially being rejected for fast-track, Gibbons has returned with some added fast-track friendly ideas.

* His company will spend $38m building wastewater infrastructure. Sounds good... but he can't connect to QLDC pipes because they're 6km away, so waste will be trucked from the development to... somewhere else. Gibbons doesn't know where yet. That's a lot of relocatable poo.

* He proposes 180 "affordable" houses. 45 would be for sale and 135 were "rent capped for 10 years." It's a gesture, I suppose.

* Gibbons has ramped up the 'first-time buyer' angle. If buyers can come up with just $30k, he'll loan you $70k (10 years, interest free) to make up your deposit. This is on a one million dollar home. If buyers can't afford a 10% deposit, how are they going to service $970k worth of loans?

The development is too big and it's in the wrong place. So perfectly qualified for fast-track approval.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/1240425/developer-defends-reviving-controversial-arrowtown-ridgeburn-housing-project

#Ridgeburn #FastTrack #Queenstown #NZ