As part of the ongoing District Plan review, Queenstown Lakes District Council is considering changes to land use rules for the Reavers Lane and Brewery Creek areas (in the northern end of Gorge Road, Queenstown) where there are known natural hazards.

QLDC General Manager Planning & Development Tony Avery said that natural hazards are a fact of life for our community given that we are in largely an alpine district.

“We have to be deliberate and cautious in managing development in areas that have known natural hazards risks,” said Mr Avery.

The Reavers Lane and Brewery Creek areas are both on the surface of alluvial fans. These are cone shaped landforms made of sediment which has made its way to the valley floor from hill country streams above.

“The natural hazards in this specific area have long been identified. Both QLDC and property owners/occupiers have known that this location could potentially be affected by natural hazards such as rockfalls, debris flows, liquefaction, and flooding. However, the plan review process has included further geotechnical investigations and provided a much deeper understanding of the nature of risk in this area,” said Mr Avery.

QLDC will be holding two pre-consultation sessions with people living and working in Reavers Lane and Brewery Creek to discuss these natural hazards, possible risks and potential options for managing these.

“The insights from these sessions will be very useful in making recommendations on proposed zoning and land use rules in the next stage of the district plan review,” Mr Avery added.

For those who are unable to make the sessions or are out of the district, there will be information and a short questionnaire available online at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz from Tuesday 7 May until Friday 17 May.

© Scoop Media