Public weighs in on proposed new subdivision in Blenheim

To allow the new development on Old Renwick Rd, the Marlborough District Council is looking at changing its zoning in the Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan (PMEP).

The 12-hectare property, dubbed Kerepi – te reo Māori for grapes – needs to be rezoned from rural to residential in order for the 200-home subdivision to be allowed.

The council has also proposed to turn some of the area into a new “urban residential” zone, so the centre of the Kerepi development could have medium density housing. This required a second variation to the PMEP.

These variations have been publicly notified for the public to submit on, and another round of consultation would also be needed before any decision was made about the subdivision getting the green light.

Director of Deluxe Property Group Ltd Greg Smith, which built Blenheim’s Rose Manor subdivision, said in his submission some infrastructure upgrade costs that were paid to develop Rose Manor on the town’s edge should be passed on to Kerepi.

The Kerepi land was just east of Rose Manor.

Greg’s submission said development costs and zone levies charged by the council had climbed considerably in recent years due to inflation, and from July 1 would be close to $100,000 per lot.

“It is our belief that the Kerepi development will benefit from some of the works that have already been completed and charged against our zone levies.

“These works specifically relate to the upgrades opposite the Waterlea Racecourse with the upgrading of Casey’s Creek," he said.

In a separate submission, Greg said all construction and builders’ traffic should be made to use the Kerepi entry and exit point during development of the subdivision, and during the building construction of at least the first 75 per cent of dwellings.

“We would like to see the existing gate between Rose Manor and the proposed Kerepi development remain in place and closed during this time.”

The developer of Kerepi, Simon Collett, said Kerepi Limited fully supported the changes proposed to the PMEP.

His submission said Kerepi Ltd particularly supported the proposed urban residential zone, which had been developed alongside the council, and with specialised urban design advice.

The submission said the new zone would help the council deliver on its obligations under the National Policy Statement for Urban Development.

It said the proposed subdivision would maintain the character and amenity of the adjacent residential environment.

A Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment, presented to council in 2022, found Marlborough would run out of land zoned for housing within 30 years – leading to a likely shortfall of 900 homes.

Marlborough’s population was projected to reach 61,000 by 2048, with nearly 80 per cent of that growth expected within 10 kilometres of central Blenheim.

One submitter opposed the development as it was “too far away from town” and not the right location for the type of development. Their submission said the section sizes were too small.

Another, who lived near Casey’s Creek which was next to the Kerepi site, said they had concerns about increased flow of water from stormwater runoff.

That submitter said upgrades to Casey’s Creek to take Rose Manor stormwater had been poorly maintained and weeds had restricted water flow, causing water to back up during rain events.

Another said Old Renwick Rd needed to be upgraded to cater for the increased traffic.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.