Innovative solutions designed to alleviate the affordable housing challenge in the Queenstown Lakes District are being honed by the QLDC Housing Taskforce.

In April the Council announced the new taskforce formed by Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult, tasked to investigate new ways of addressing housing availability and affordability in the district. Four months on the taskforce is reporting considerable progress.

Taskforce chairman and QLDC Councillor John MacDonald is enthusiastic about the team’s work. "We're exploring a range of options to help the community with the critical issue of access to affordable housing. We’re looking into some really exciting and innovative options, which we believe will help key workers, families and even retirees into secure long-term affordable housing. I believe we’ve got the right people on the taskforce to make a difference to the district and am encouraged by progress so far.”

The many options being considered include an affordable ownership model of Trust-held land being leased to the homeowner for a nominal rent. In this possible model only the housing unit is bought and sold into a controlled market where the increase in value is limited. This concept maintains long-term affordability and would be a first for Queenstown, possibly New Zealand. Internationally this concept has been successfully implemented in locations such as the Canadian resort, Whistler.

The thinking to date is not only about a single solution, but recognises that the market is quite diverse and people are looking for a variety of mechanisms that can meet their particular circumstances. One additional model being explored with a third party is non-bank lending arrangements through investors, whereby households are able to purchase property with lower deposits and share in any market increase after a set period of time. This could remove a significant barrier to entering the housing market for many.
Equally the taskforce understands that renting needs to remain a viable option for people and the taskforce has recognised further work with the Government on identifying areas in the district which are eligible for rental subsidies and assistance.

Further thought is also being given to ideas that result in more land being made available for residential developments, and incentives which could assist in that. This aligns with the Council’s application to the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF); which creates a loan facility to the community fund infrastructure associated with enabling residential development. These initiatives, along with the current Proposed District Plan review and working with the Government’s Special Housing Area programme, are all designed to bring more houses to the market, reduce supply pressure, and drive down cost.

QLDC Mayor Jim Boult confirmed the cost of housing in the district remains his greatest concern. He described the initiatives under consideration by the taskforce as practical, realistic solutions. “I am pleased to be part of another project, which like better public transport, has the opportunity to benefit people from all walks of life in our community. All of the options are being worked through by the taskforce, with considerable work to be done before any can be confirmed but progress is excellent.

I am determined we will see solutions that make a real difference in housing provision for everyone from workers in our thriving tourism and construction industries, through to young families and retirees.”

Mayor Boult thanked the members of the taskforce for their hard work and innovative thinking to date.

ENDS

Taskforce Members:
John MacDonald (Chairman), QLDC Councillor and taskforce chair
Bill Moran, formerly Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary Strategy, NZ Treasury
Ian Adamson, Principal, Warren and Mahoney Architects
Ian Bayliss, Planning Policy Manager, QLDC
Ian Greaves, Development Manager, Southern Ventures
Jim Boult, QLDC Mayor
John May, Director, Southern Ventures
Julie Scott, Executive Officer, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust
Kirsty Sinclair, Real Estate Agent, Harcourts
Mike Theelen, Chief Executive, QLDC
Paul Croft, Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Investment Group
Paul Munro, Chief Executive Officer, Christchurch City Holdings
Ross McRobie, QLDC Councillor
Sally Mingaye-Hall, tourism education sector
Scott Figenshow, Chief Executive Officer, Community Housing Aotearoa
Shaun Drylie, Chief Executive Officer, SBS Group
Stephen Brent, Principal Partner, Cavell Leitch Lawyers
Steve Evans, Chief Executive, Fletcher Residential and Land Development division
Tony Avery, General Manager, Planning and Development, QLDC
Trent Yeo, Executive Director, Ziptrek Ecotours

Innovative solutions designed to alleviate the affordable housing challenge in the Queenstown Lakes District are being honed by the QLDC Housing Taskforce.

 

In April the Council announced the new taskforce formed by Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult, tasked to investigate new ways of addressing housing availability and affordability in the district. Four months on the taskforce is reporting considerable progress. 

 

Taskforce chairman and QLDC Councillor John MacDonald is enthusiastic about the team’s work. "We're exploring a range of options to help the community with the critical issue of access to affordable housing. We’re looking into some really exciting and innovative options, which we believe will help key workers, families and even retirees into secure long-term affordable housing. I believe we’ve got the right people on the taskforce to make a difference to the district and am encouraged by progress so far.”

 

The many options being considered include an affordable ownership model of Trust-held land being leased to the homeowner for a nominal rent. In this possible model only the housing unit is bought and sold into a controlled market where the increase in value is limited. This concept maintains long-term affordability and would be a first for Queenstown, possibly New Zealand. Internationally this concept has been successfully implemented in locations such as the Canadian resort, Whistler.

 

The thinking to date is not only about a single solution, but recognises that the market is quite diverse and people are looking for a variety of mechanisms that can meet their particular circumstances. One additional model being explored with a third party is non-bank lending arrangements through investors, whereby households are able to purchase property with lower deposits and share in any market increase after a set period of time. This could remove a significant barrier to entering the housing market for many.  

Equally the taskforce understands that renting needs to remain a viable option for people and the taskforce has recognised further work with the Government on identifying areas in the district which are eligible for rental subsidies and assistance. 

 

Further thought is also being given to ideas that result in more land being made available for residential developments, and incentives which could assist in that. This aligns with the Council’s application to the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF); which creates a loan facility to the community fund infrastructure associated with enabling residential development.  These initiatives, along with the current Proposed District Plan review and working with the Government’s Special Housing Area programme, are all designed to bring more houses to the market, reduce supply pressure, and drive down cost.

 

QLDC Mayor Jim Boult confirmed the cost of housing in the district remains his greatest concern. He described the initiatives under consideration by the taskforce as practical, realistic solutions. “I am pleased to be part of another project, which like better public transport, has the opportunity to benefit people from all walks of life in our community. All of the options are being worked through by the taskforce, with considerable work to be done before any can be confirmed but progress is excellent.

 

I am determined we will see solutions that make a real difference in housing provision for everyone from workers in our thriving tourism and construction industries, through to young families and retirees.”

 

Mayor Boult thanked the members of the taskforce for their hard work and innovative thinking to date.

 

ENDS

 

Taskforce Members:

John MacDonald (Chairman), QLDC Councillor and taskforce chair

Bill Moran, formerly Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary Strategy, NZ Treasury

Ian Adamson, Principal, Warren and Mahoney Architects

Ian Bayliss, Planning Policy Manager, QLDC

Ian Greaves, Development Manager, Southern Ventures

Jim Boult, QLDC Mayor

John May, Director, Southern Ventures

Julie Scott, Executive Officer, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust

Kirsty Sinclair, Real Estate Agent, Harcourts

Mike Theelen, Chief Executive, QLDC

Paul Croft, Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Investment Group

Paul Munro, Chief Executive Officer, Christchurch City Holdings

Ross McRobie, QLDC Councillor

Sally Mingaye-Hall, tourism education sector

Scott Figenshow, Chief Executive Officer, Community Housing Aotearoa

Shaun Drylie, Chief Executive Officer, SBS Group

Stephen Brent, Principal Partner, Cavell Leitch Lawyers

Steve Evans, Chief Executive, Fletcher Residential and Land Development division

Tony Avery, General Manager, Planning and Development, QLDC

Trent Yeo, Executive Director, Ziptrek Ecotours