Assessment supports actions underway to enable more housing
The Rotorua Housing and Business Assessment officially adopted by Councillors today provides clear evidence to support actions underway to enable more housing for the community.
The assessment was prepared in accordance with the Government’s directive under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) for tier 2 councils, including Rotorua Lakes Council.
Council also today approved the inclusion of bottom line housing requirements outlined in the HBA in the District Plan, also a requirement of the NPS-UD.
District Development DCE Jean-Paul Gaston says the report isn’t the starting point of Rotorua’s housing journey but provides a level of certainty that Council has been on the right track with its planning for the future.
“It’s very reassuring that the Housing Business Assessment has essentially confirmed and ratified the direction that we’ve been working towards for the past few years in trying to ease housing pressures in Rotorua.”
“We’ve seen some direct parallels in the assessment’s recommendations and the outcomes of Council’s Spatial Plan 2018 and the Housing and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework which was completed last year.”
“The assessment has provided us with some very clear bottom lines that we need to address, it’s provided a base level to monitor against going forward and it has reconfirmed that focussing key areas for intensification is the way forward.”
The key recommendations of the Housing Business Assessment include:
- Supporting the need for intensification plan change
- Re-zoning Fenton Street to a more intensive mixed-use zoning
- Providing more infrastructure-served, feasible greenfield land
- Ensuring that the CBD is an attractive place to invest, do business & live
- That Council continues to seek funding to help alleviate storm water constraints
- That Council considers zoning more land for light industrial use.
Work is already underway to progress what was reflected in the recommendations. Council is working through the pre-engagement phase of an upcoming District Plan change with a focus on intensification.
Council has also been working towards identifying priority areas for development, where intensification and change of zoning can have the most impact in delivering more homes and better housing choices for the community.
Across the city infrastructure investment is underway with major upgrades enabling more development in greenfield areas such as Pukehangi and Wharenui Rise, and last year Council agreed to extend the role of Rotorua Economic Development (RED) to support the delivery of Long-term Plan commitments relating to economic development and the regeneration of the inner city.
“We know that we are facing a housing crisis and Council is working with urgency to enable and encourage growth in a way that protects and enhances our city.”
“Knowing that the Government is driving that change and enabling intensification through the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, means Council will have the tools to help fast-track the delivery of homes that our community desperately needs.”
To find out more
Read about the presentation of the Housing Business Assessment at this month’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee HERE where you’ll also find a link to the meeting recording if you would like to view the presentation. The Committee recommended Council adopt the HBA and approve inclusion of the housing bottom lines in the District Plan.
You can view the HBA main report HERE and the HBA technical report HERE
For more information about Council’s work to enable and encourage more housing development visit www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/housing
Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to engage and have your say about the development of housing and thriving communities in Rotorua.
