Council to revisit gardens plan

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has revisited its plans for a maintenance depot in the Queenstown Gardens, QLDC Mayor Clive Geddes said.

Under the existing designation the council can develop maintenance sheds (no larger than 100 square metres) as long as they fit within the designated footprint.

“We had considered for a number of reasons that a two-storey building provided better value for the community, allowed for a more aesthetically appealing development in what is already an excavated site and was the most efficient use of the site,” Mr Geddes said.

The council applied for a new designation to allow it to develop one larger depot.

“From the outset this has caused some concern in our community from people who considered the gardens was inappropriate for a development larger than that anticipated in the gardens management plan,” Mr Geddes said.

The new designation had been notified and was set down for a hearing before an independent commissioner on October 2. Despite the application receiving several submissions against the proposal and a negative report from a Lakes Environmental planner, the council considered it would have been approved.

“I don’t think we were in any doubt that approval would have ended in an appeal and we would have continued the debate in the Environment Court. Effectively that would have seen the community facing off against the community,” Mr Geddes said.

Given the prospect of an expensive process for all, the council had decided to revisit the options.

‘Instead of a hearing we plan to meet with submitters to discuss revised plans,’ Mr Geddes said. The council was working with the original depot architect to explore a revised plan that would allow the council to work within the existing designation.

“Effectively we are now exploring developing two smaller buildings. While they won’t be as appealing in design due to size limitations and not such an efficient use of land they will fit the original intentions of the gardens plan and the current designation.” Mr Geddes said.

The council would look at mitigating the effect of the smaller sheds through landscape screening of the buildings.

The council was looking forward to discussing the new plans with interested parties.