Mayors from across some of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, including Waimakariri District Mayor Dan Gordon, have signed a letter to the Government calling for changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Act to ensure greenfield housing development is properly planned, infrastructure-ready and fairly funded.
Residents and community members, with Mayor Dan Gordon, MP Dan Rosewarne, and Oxford-Ōhoka councillor Niki Mealings, at the petition handover at Ōhoka Domain on Monday.
“I congratulate all who were involved in putting together the petition, on the work they have done and for taking up the good fight on behalf of their community, working together to oppose this development.
“As a Council, we had never considered Ōhoka as suitable for large-scale, residential development.
“There are significant concerns around flooding, transport, and the ability to service a development of this scale in a small rural settlement. Ōhoka also has significant drainage challenges that cannot be ignored.
““This is why, through our District Plan process, we carefully considered where future development should occur and identified land that was appropriate for growth.
“Independent Hearing Commissioners determined that the district could sustainably accommodate up to 17,000 new dwellings over the next 30 years, providing capacity for just shy of 50,000 additional residents and ensuring we can meet our future growth needs.
“The Carter proposal in Ōhoka has already been considered through two independent processes, the private Plan Change and the District Plan, and declined.
“For it now to be considered again through Fast-track is simply not appropriate. We have been consistent in saying this.
“I have also joined with mayors from other fast-growing districts (Auckland, Queenstown Lakes, Tauranga, and Selwyn) in an open letter to the government calling for a pause on existing greenfield housing Fast-track applications, and for all political parties to support legislation removing residential development in rural areas from the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.”
Read the Mayors Fast Track Applications Letter
From left: community member Meris Brandran-Adams who led the petition, MP Dan Rosewarne, Mayor Dan Gordon.
Oxford-Ōhoka councillor Niki Mealings, Waimakariri District Mayor Dan Gordon and MP Dan Rosewarne, with community members.