Plan to solve affording housing in Queenstown Lakes district big step closer

Queenstown Lakes District Councillors today voted to endorse a significant partnership plan that addresses affordable housing access in the district.

Grow Well Whaiora’s Joint Housing Action Plan aims to ensure the community can easily access housing that’s quality, secure, stable, and affordable.

The action plan was jointly created by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kāinga Ora, and Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. It also had input from Kāi Tahu and Otago Regional Council.

Mayor Glyn Lewers says the partnership’s plan is a cohesive approach toward housing in the district, and he’s pleased Councillors unanimously endorsed it at today’s full Council meeting.

“Given the complexity of housing issues, and the district’s unique challenges, partnering with central government and the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust significantly widens what we’re capable of addressing.”

The action plan features nine housing solutions which largely focus on the less-visible, but-vital levers and regulations that influence the building and availability of housing.

Solutions include exploring public-private partnerships, buying and developing land, seeking rental solutions for the district’s workforce, and continuing to support and amplify Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s work.

Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust Chief Executive Julie Scott says demand for its housing services has amplified over winter with over 1,000 eligible households now on the Trust’s waiting list.

“We’ve witnessed a growing need for both affordable rentals and entry-level housing to purchase, so we welcome the key actions within the Joint Housing Action Plan, which will assist in delivering a range of housing options for low-moderate income households living and working in our district.”

The action plan aligns with Kāi Tahu’s values framework including the three key tenets: whanaukataka (family and community focussed), haere whakamua (future focussed), and tikaka (appropriate action).

Key performance indicators drafted into the plan include increased housing numbers and options, increased proportion of more-affordable homes, decrease in housing being a barrier to recruiting and retaining staff, and an increased sense of community wellbeing relating to housing.

Grow Well Whaiora will report annually on progress with the indicators so the group’s partners and the public can know how it is progressing.

The plan was presented in draft stage to the community earlier this year for feedback, with 71% of respondents either supportive or neutral.

It will next be presented to the Grow Well Whaiora Governance Group for endorsement.

While the plan’s solutions will bear more fruit in the medium-to-long term, QLDC continues to support Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust for more immediate solutions.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

QLDC Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri

Nine Housing Solutions

1. Form a clear, evidence-based understanding of the district’s housing issues and regularly monitor key indicators.

2. Realise opportunities to purchase and develop land for the provision of affordable housing in the Queenstown Lakes District.

3. Enable affordable housing choices through legislative and other tools.

4. Continue to support and amplify the work of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust and other providers through various means.

5. Influence and incentivise developers to provide affordable housing.

6. Focus on rental solutions for the district’s workforce in collaboration with the community.

7. Further developer public/private partnerships to deliver affordable housing and choice.

8. Implement National Policy Statement on Urban Development changes and review District Plan to enable more affordable housing and choice.

9. Design and implement structure plans (frameworks to guide the development or redevelopment of an area) with the community.

• Draft QLDC Joint Housing Action Plan (PDF, 5MB) – to be endorsed in coming weeks by the Governance Group. Includes further context, statistics, and full lists of KPIs and solutions.