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In this newsletter, we’ll share updates on Te Tapuae Southern Corridor and the work Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is doing to create a structure plan for the land that sits south of Kawarau River around Hanley’s Farm, Jack’s Point and Homestead Bay.
About the project
A structure plan guides development in an area to make sure it includes the infrastructure and services required, and delivers what the community needs now, and will need in the future.
Development of land in Te Tapuae Southern Corridor is already underway, from Jack’s Point through to Hanley’s Farm and Parkridge. By creating a structure plan for the wider area, we can make sure the houses, parks and reserves, services, and infrastructure our community needs are all considered and factored into the future of this space.
This piece of work is one of the priorities of the Grow Well Whaiora Partnership, which is made up of representatives from QLDC, Kāi Tahu, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Internal Affairs, Otago Regional Council, and Kainga Ora.
What's the latest?
Using community feedback shared in November and December of 2023, we’re now working to create the draft structure plan – which we plan to have ready in early 2025.
Part of this ongoing work includes considering significant constraints across the Whakatipu roading network which cannot be solved by public transport bus services and active travel alone. The network requires a comprehensive public transport solution, and we’ve provided more detail on this in the Transport section below.
Elsewhere in the project, infrastructure consultants have delivered an overview of water supply, stormwater, and wastewater requirements for Te Tapuae. We’re also reviewing a draft ecological report for the area and working through a draft geotechnical/natural hazards report with ORC and private developers.
Most recently, we hosted a workshop on Monday 9 September with consultants covering off identified ecology, urban design, landscape design, economics transport, natural hazards, cultural, and infrastructure gaps in Te Tapuae Southern Corridor area, to agree how they could be resolved.
Progress reports on the project are presented to QLDC’s Planning & Strategy Committee on a 6-weekly basis. The most recent report from Thursday 5 September can be found here: www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/council-meetings/5-september-2024-planning-strategy-committee-meeting/.
Once the draft structure plan for Te Tapuae Southern Corridor is ready, we’ll share it with the public and look to hear your thoughts on what we’ve got right, and what might need to be changed. Watch this space – we’ll be in touch once the plan’s ready to be viewed.
What we've heard in the past
Back in November 2023, we hosted public drop-in sessions in Hanley’s Farm and Jack’s Point to share information with members of the community about the structure planning process, and collect information about their aspirations for development in the area.
What we learned:
Participants at both the drop-in sessions largely agreed that active travel trails were the most important feature needed in the area, followed by ecological features.
We then asked those attending to share their thoughts on four key topics of future development, and found:
For commercial/retail options, participants felt there was an opportunity for some development in Te Tapuae Southern Corridor, with most interested in a small scale grocery store and/or dairy.
For housing, participants rated concepts of green and open spaces in conjunction with housing development. Low density development was the overall preference, but a third of participants were open to higher, mixed and increasing densities.
For transport, the vast majority of participants focused on public and active travel topics, with frequency of future public transport raised alongside the need for cycle trails to avoid State Highway 6.
And for social infrastructure, the majority of feedback centred around open spaces and parks, with some comments around access to the waterfront at Homestead Bay.
If you’d like more information on what we heard at these sessions and online, check out the Engagement Report we’ve produced below.
Transport
Our transport network’s capacity is a key part of delivering what communities in Te Tapuae Southern Corridor and the wider Queenstown Lakes need now, and will need in the future.
We’re working to identify how transport investment can be appropriately planned, staged, and funded through this structure planning process, which includes further investigation with our Grow Well Whaiora Partners and significant landowners on:
The level of commercial activity and community infrastructure within easy reach of residents:
Commercial land and the location of community infrastructure (sport fields, event centres, community hubs) will help to provide everything residents need nearby and reduce the number of people crossing Kawarau Bridge during peak times.
Public transport and active travel mode share:
The realistic maximum number of people likely to use public transport and active travel, and how many people would continue using private vehicles to move around.
An alternate bridge crossing:
The land use, transport network, accessibility, and environmental implications of an alternate crossing on development in Te Tapuae Southern Corridor.
Staging and triggers:
The staging, triggers, costs, and delivery considerations for transport infrastructure interventions within Te Tapuae Southern Corridor.
Given the rapid growth occurring in and around the Whakatipu and its constrained transport network, we will continue to investigate alternative public transport solutions required in the area.
Active travel
The A7 active travel route proposes to connect Frankton and Jack's Point using a pathway separate from State Highway 6, and responsibility of the project currently sits with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
The National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2024-27 continues to invest in walking and cycling to improve safety and resilience through investment targeted at completing committed projects already underway, and prioritising the maintenance and renewal of existing cycleways and footpaths.
The overall strategic direction of the Government Policy Statement for land transport prioritises economic growth and productivity through creating more capacity on our roads and travel time improvements. There is a significant carry-forward of projects from the previous 2021-24 NLTP, meaning there is no available funding for new projects, or funding to top up existing ones. Therefore, it is unlikely the A7 route is able to proceed to construction in this NLTP period.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the Government Policy Statement – Land Transport (GPS) and National Land Transport Programme (NLTP)?
A: The GPS outlines central government's plan for investing in land transport over the next 10 years, and aims to boost economic growth and productivity, increase maintenance, resilience, and safety, and ensure land transport projects provide value for money. The GPS outlines funding for walking and cycling projects should focus on areas with existing high activity, and contribute to economic growth and productivity.
The National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is fundamental to the work NZTA delivers, as this sets out funding for Aotearoa New Zealand's transport system over the next three years. The NLTP was formally adopted on Saturday 31 August 2024.
Want to know more?
For more information on the structure plan we're drafting for Te Tapuae Southern Corridor, head to Let's Talk. You'll also find a new Q&A section where you can submit any questions you have about the structure plan or process, and our team will get back to you as soon
as possible!
Te Tapuae Southern Corridor structure plan is partially funded by the Government’s Better Off Funding which was established as part of the Three Waters Reform process. Central government set aside $500 million (nationwide) in Tranche 1 for councils to use to improve amenity and wellbeing outcomes for residents. This funding provides huge opportunity for councils to progress and accelerate projects while ensuring minimal impact to ratepayers.
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