A zone change allowing for a major Wanaka subdivision has been unopposed, Queenstown Lakes District Council senior planning analyst Alyson Schuler said.

"The Environment Court appeal period for Variation 25, better known as the Peninsula Bay Variation, lapsed last week with no appeals having been lodged. That means the 75 hectare zone change is now operative," Ms Schuler said.

A variation to change the Peninsula Bay zoning from rural to residential was first notified in 2001.This was subsequently appealed to the Environment Court, which dismissed the entire zoning.

"What followed was significant consultation, research and amendments to the proposal to ensure landscape values were protected," Ms Schuler said.

The revised variation was notified in November last year.

"The rezoning adopted by the revised variation protects over 30% of the site as open space, ensuring public access and landscape protection into the future. That was a major breakthrough in this process, as reflected in the submissions." Ms Schuler said.

Of the 170 submissions received, 90% of them were in support of the zone change, and in particular the proposed protection of open space.

The hearing of submissions was held in April this year, and the council's decision on submissions was notified on 7 July.

"The fact that this significant variation was able to become operative without the time and expense of being further opposed reflects good community engagement and positive use of the process. It?s a good outcome for both the developer (Infinity) and the community," Ms Schuler said.

The outcome received a positive response from Wanaka Councillor and Deputy Mayor Sally Middleton.

"Infinity has cooperated well with the Wanaka community to achieve the large open spaces for recreation use and has also offered to provide assistance to the council's affordable housing programme," Deputy Mayor Middleton said.

Through a stakeholders agreement Infinity had agreed to contribute 2% of Peninsula Bay lots for affordable housing, she said.

Infinity would now need to apply for resource consent for an outline development plan before any development of the site could commence.

"The community will now have an opportunity to have input on subdivision design, lot layout, public access, development density, road alignment and landscaping," Ms Schuler said.

Prior to the consent being approved, Infinity will need to hold a public open day and consult with the Wanaka Urban Design Panel.

All the comments received from those processes must be documented in the resource consent application.

ENDS

For further information please contact Alyson Schuler 03 441 0499.

By: Sarah