Photo: ODT filesA government-mandated district plan variation aimed at enabling denser, more affordable housing in the Queenstown Lakes district’s urban areas has been approved. They were considering a report and recommendations on the variation by an independent panel, which held public hearings over three weeks in Arrowtown, Queenstown and Wanaka last July and August. The council had to approve the panel’s recommendations in full, without amendments, or start the variation process from scratch. He supported the panel’s recommendations, which gave the council some control over how the district’s urban areas developed — ‘‘growing up and not so much growing out’’. She expected the Friends of Arrowtown Village group would appeal that part of the variation in the Environment Court.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 05, 2026 15:46 UTC