John Glover
Q1 It is well known that one of the key contributors to the historic issues with Lake Hayes water quality has been from upstream land development. What is your position on intensification in the Lake Hayes catchment area?
I agree with Mike Hanffs’ “fix the catchment, fix the lake” approach and - in addition to building development - vegetation removal, agricultural practices and water takes can all impact the lake. I believe environmental bottom lines need to underpin decision making around the district asking what changes can our land support and work backwards from there. In the case of a new ‘satellite’ development, the impacts on protected landscapes, biodiversity, traffic congestion, night skies and the unplanned costs that might be forced on council to provide additional infrastructure are all factors.
I’ve been a member of the ORC Upper Lakes Integrated Catchment Management Group that, after a year long process has just finalised a draft Catchment Action Plan which will be out for consultation by the time this is circulated.
Q2a Do you consider the current Coronet Village Fast-Track application that includes 780 residences positive or negative?
Negative
Q2b Why do you say that?
Firstly we have a process that has excluded residents from participating in decision making around the area in which they live. Secondly we have Council leadership who have been unwilling to even listen to residents concerns. Thirdly, I believe we need a whole of district planning approach - so we can work towards a joined up set of well designed, functional urban spaces. Governments talk about the need for ‘localism’ but are ironically happy to override local planning policies when it suits them.
Q3 What infrastructure would you like to see in place to address our traffic and sewerage issues in Queenstown? Please provide specific examples.
I would be asking Government to reinstate the funding that was removed for priority bus lanes along SH6 either side of the new ‘BP Roundabout Junction”
We need to plan now for where future road and active transport river crossings should be. If we don’t have an agreed plan, they will never happen in time. Examples would be a pedestrian bridge adjacent to Edith Cavell bridge or a new vehicle bridge for that crossing, a new Kawarau crossing with link road from the Lake Hayes end of Ladies Mile to the southern corridor and a new pedestrian/ bike crossing across the Kawarau close to the existing bridge. And of course a range of projects are needed in the Upper Clutha too.
Wastewater - I believe we need to localise waste water treatment with dispersed clusters. Pumping waste long distances to overloaded treatment plants makes no sense to me. The technology exists, and is used across the world, to turn wastewater into to drinking water and maybe that is the cost that needs to be factored into new suburbs then we don’t need to worry about how we dispose of treated effluent.