Luggate is changing up a gear so the community has decided to take steps next month to decide future priorities and update its nine-year old community plan.
Allan Dippie was the one of the first developers to announce big plans for the town in the early 2000s, resulting in a new subdivision between Luggate Creek and the Clutha River.
In December 2021, developer Murray Frost announced his plans to significantly expand Luggate. Earthworks, roads and infrastructure are now under way for more than 100 new sections.
In December last year, the new $5.56 million Luggate Memorial Centre was opened, replacing the 1954 hall which was condemned to the bulldozer in 2017 for not meeting earthquake standards.
Upper Clutha Transport — which has operated for more than 100 years at the old mill site in the heart of the town — is relocating later this year.
Mr Frost then has plans to develop the site into a new commercial precinct, while preserving the historic mill building.
Two non-profit, volunteer organisations, the Shaping our Future forum and the Luggate Community Association, have united to host two community visioning workshops at the new hall in mid-July.
Forum executive officer John Glover said Luggate’s last community plan was produced in 2003 when there were 83 homes.
The association had agreed it was time to update it.
Queenstown Lakes District Council data shows Luggate had 250 houses by 2021, housing 600 people.
The new district plan enables another 310 to be built in the long term, and the town’s population is projected to be 960 by 2051.
Census 2023 results will update the population data, but results are not yet available.
Mr Glover said capacity for growth was ‘‘baked into the district plan’’.
‘‘In the short term, the adequacy of water and other infrastructure may act as a natural brake on the rate of that growth, so it’s a great time for the community to get ahead of some of that.
‘‘They’ve got a great hall but what’s next onthe list?’’
Shaping our Future chairwoman Vanessa van Uden said a plan led and owned by the community would be ‘‘far more likely to get the outcomes the community desires’’.
‘‘The alternative is no plan and everyone else determining your future for you, so it’s well worth giving upa couple of hours to come along and have your say.’’
The first workshop is at the hall on Thursday, July 13, from 6.30pm-9.30pm. It will repeated on Sunday, July 16 from 9am-noon.
The workshops are open to all and people need attend only one.
