The Queenstown Lakes District Council this afternoon agreed to put out a five-year housing action plan for consultation.
Queenstown Lakes’ housing crisis had people sleeping in cars, rentals being turned to Airbnbs and a growing number of renters fighting for a smaller pool of rentals, with costs climbing.
It was pitched as a partnership between Queenstown Lakes District Council, local support agencies and the central government. But Councillor Niki Gladding was concerned it appeared most solutions to address the crisis would fall on the council.
Construction of Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s six Secure Home houses are underway at Cherwell Lane in Shotover Country.
Council chief executive Mike Theelen said the Queenstown Lakes District Council had never played a large role in owning or delivering community housing, and he believed its approach of supporting the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust was the correct way to continue.
The waiting list for housing support from the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust had now grown to almost 900 households – about one in 15 households in the district.
The draft Queenstown Lakes District Joint Housing Action Plan 2023-28 will go out for consultation from 1 May to 9 June.
Credit: radionz.co.nz
