Queenstown Lakes District Council will reluctantly appeal an Environment Court ruling allowing a Mitre 10 Mega hardware store on industrial-zoned land.
The council, at a meeting today (Friday), resolved that it had to protect land set aside at Frankton, near Glenda Drive, for future industrial uses.
“We all welcome the concept of a mega store, brilliant, but it’s not about that,” mayor Vanessa van Uden says.
“Right now, today, that store could be built at Frankton with a non-notified consent on land identified for just that purpose within Remarkables Park.
“Instead, as it stands, it will eat into land set aside to meet the future needs of our business community.”
Council planning and policy general manager Philip Pannett adds: “There is a clear need for industrial land in the Wakatipu and we have seen many businesses have to relocate to or establish in other areas such as Cromwell over the last 10 years because there isn’t the land available locally.”
Van Uden this week told Mountain Scene that she wanted Frankton Flats planning issues resolved.
Today, she states: “I want a solution for Frankton Flats, period.
“It’s unfortunate but I am now convinced it is essential to that solution that we maintain the integrity of the industrial zone.”
Your say
Hello….
Can someone please explain how this development is less "industrial" than what is already happening next door in Glenda Drive. There's already builders supplies, landscape supplies, cafes and everything else that's in the MItre10 Mega concept down there.
And where's the residential units upstairs? This doesn't fit with the Queenstown industrial zoning, it had better go over to Cromwell too.
But seriously, the "loss" of heavy industrial to Cromwell is the reality and we should encourage it for the growth and sustainability of the wider district. The issue here is around land value, not inappropriate use, and our council can't influence values. They should be either working with,or amalgamating with Central Otago to create an framework where the future needs of the area are met.
09 Sep 2012 10:32AMLandy
Council has forgotten
QLDC what a poor decision. The Government needs to get involve in this fiasco. QLDC couldn't organize a pii up in a brewery
08 Sep 2012 11:30AMPatron
Probably Doomed
I wonder why anyone (home owner, builder, developer) would bother with Queenstown. If it's not your rival taking you to court, it's the council.
07 Sep 2012 10:24PMnzmick
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