Private Plan Change Application - The Hills Resort Zone

Queenstown Lakes District Council formally received an application on November 14th, 2024, requesting a private plan change to the Proposed District Plan’s The Hills Resort Zone (Chapter 47). The Council is currently processing the application as required under the RMA. A decision is yet to be made on the application, and the Council is now publicly notifying the Plan Change Request for submissions.

Current Status of Application: 

Council has filed its Section 42A report and other evidence as of Midday on February 13th, 2026, as required in the Hearing Panel’s First Minute. The First Minute of the Hearing for the Hills Resort Zone Private Plan Change was issued on January 13th, 2026. The Private Plan change was accepted for Notification by the Planning and Strategy Committee on June 23rd, 2025. The Private Plan change request was publicly notified on August 15th, 2025. The Summary of Decisions Requested from Submitters was notified on October 23rd, 2025, and it open for Further Submissions for 10 working days. The period for Further Submissions closed on November 7th, 2025.

Hearing Panel, Minutes and Memorandum:

An independent Hearing Panel (IHP) has been procured to hear evidence and submissions regarding the proposed changes to the Hills Resort Zone Private Plan Change. The panel Consists of Dr Lee Beattie as the chair of the panel, and Lisa Mein who will hear evidence and submissions before making a recommendation to Council regarding the changes proposed in this Private Plan Change Request. The IHP will issue information regarding the hearing through issued minutes, with these outlining the process in which the hearing will take place, the schedule of the hearing and other relevant information for submitters. The panel will issue further minutes with any updates to the hearing, which can be viewed by going to the quick links below for the minutes and memoranda.

Quick links

Minutes and Memoranda

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Submission Guidance & Plan Change Fact-Sheet

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General Hearing Information

  • Lee Beattie (Chair)

    Dr Beattie has been a hearing commissioner for QLDC since November 2016.  He has sat on a number of resource consent hearing panels, including as Chair. In the last year he has acted in the role of decision maker on non-notified resource consent applications for QLDC, a role he also undertakes for Auckland Council. He is a well-known and well-respected hearing commissioner both here and in Auckland. He is a planner and urban designer with over 30 years’ experience in an extensive range of complex urban planning and design matters. He is currently also University of Auckland’s director of the University’s Urban Design programme.

     

    Lisa Mein

    Lisa is an Urban Designer and Planner with 28 years’ experience spanning local government and private consultancy. She has worked in a diverse range of areas including concept master planning, design guidance and review, policy development, urban regeneration strategies, conservation and heritage planning. She regularly provides urban design advice for private and public sector clients. Lisa has been aa independent hearings commissioner for QLDC since 2019. She has also been an independent hearing commissioner for Auckland Council since 2020. In this time, she has sat on hearing panels for plan changes, resource consents and notices of requirement. 

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  • Check out the video below for information on how to participate in a hearing!

     

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Minutes and Memoranda

Section 42A Report & Council Expert Evidence

Public Notice: Notification of Summary of Decisions

Further Submissions

Make a further submission:

Any written further submissions must be made using Form 6, as prescribed by the Resource Management (Forms, Fees, and Procedure) Regulations 2003. All submissions must state whether or not you wish to be heard in support of your further submission at a hearing. The further submission form is available below as well as the Ministry for the Environment and New Zealand Legislation websites.

Who can make a further submission?

The following persons may lodge a further submission:

(a) Any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest; and

(b) Any person that has an interest in an aspect of the variation greater than the public in general.

What can a further submission cover?

Further submissions must be limited to matters in support of, or in opposition to, a matter raised in an original submission.

How do I make a further submission?  Using: Form 6  

By post: Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348, Attention: Private Plan Change 1 - The Hills Resort Zone Further Submission

By email: pdpsubmission@qldc.govt.nz

(subject line: Private Plan Change 1 - The Hills Resort Zone)

Submissions closed November 7th 2025

Submissions Received

Submission Guidance & Plan Change Fact-Sheet

QLDC have more information on writing a submission and District Plan hearings here: District Plan - QLDC 

Further Submissions Close on November 7th 2025

Notified Version of Private Plan Change Information & Application

Private Plan Change Process

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Request for Further Information

Want to talk about it?

If you have any queries on any of the information provided or need help finding a particular document, please contact one of our dedicated duty policy planners on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka) or email us at pdpenquiries@qldc.govt.nz