The Queenstown Lakes District Council is receiving strong interest in its review of the 'living zones' allowed in rural areas but more feedback is needed, planning and regulatory manager Vicki Jones said.

The District Plan allowed people to live in certain rural parts of the district.

These were called Rural Living Zones and were different to other rural areas, which were called the Rural General Zone. The latter was subject to strong controls already and was not part of the review.

"We are focusing on the Rural Living Zones, which are areas of land identified in the Council's District Plan as either Rural Lifestyle (1-2ha) or Rural Residential (4000m2) Zones, the main difference being in the size of the sections allowed to be developed," Ms Jones said.

Prior to any formal consideration of a possible Plan Change, which would be necessary to change the zones, the Council had identified a number of issues with the rural living areas, which were discussed in detail in a public review document.

"That document is now widely available, including feedback forms. Before we take this any further we want to know what the public thinks of the issues and the options we have identified," Ms Jones said.

The issues were complicated and Ms Jones urged anyone interested to attend one of two public meetings being held this week.

The public meetings would be held at Wanaka on Thursday, May 26 at 5.30pm at the Lake Wanaka Centre and at Queenstown on Friday, May 27 at 5.30pm at the Queenstown Events Centre.

If the Council chose to progress to a Plan Change then there will be further opportunities for public submissions, Ms Jones said.

ENDS

For further information please contact Vick Jones 03 441 0499 or 027 230 1266.

By: Tamah