Developer defends reviving controversial Arrowtown Ridgeburn housing project

Ridgeburn Ltd, the developer behind a controversial housing project near Arrowtown, has defended a revised fast-track application for their proposed 1210-house development and commercial precinct. The project had faced criticism from locals, who argued it was the wrong project in the wrong place, potentially causing road congestion, hurting regional tourism, and bypassing years of careful district council planning.

After councils raised significant information gaps and the Fast-track panel convenor declared the project not ready, Ridgeburn Ltd temporarily withdrew their application in July. However, plans were in place to resubmit the application this month. Ridgeburn's director, Kurt Gibbons, defended the project, stating that it would address the high rental prices and housing demand in Queenstown, which has experienced the highest growth in the country.

Gibbons explained that the wastewater plant, which was one of the main issues raised during the initial application, would now dispose of its waste in a lower level slat field, rather than on Morven Hill, a 54-hectare area of native planting. The developer claimed the wastewater would be batheable and that the water treatment plant would alleviate the need for more extensive planning time.

Ridgeburn was not just a housing development, Gibbons claimed, but would also include office spaces, daycare centers, and bars. The developer stated that 20 percent of the development would be affordable, with 45 out of 180 houses being for sale at an affordable price and the remaining 135 rent-capped for 10 years. However, when challenged, Gibbons conceded that only 45 of the affordable houses would be for sale, and 135 would be rent-capped, which equates to approximately 16 percent or 180 houses.

Gibbons also highlighted the various infrastructure upgrades included in the project, such as a wastewater treatment plant, stormwater management system, and additional roads. He assured that the team responsible for the project would determine where the sludge from the wastewater plant would be collected.