Council swamped by subdivision applications

Applications for subdivisions throughout the Masterton district came in thick and fast this month, just prior to the launch of the combined Wairarapa District Plan.
Purely for the month of August alone, there were 25 applications to divide up land. Four of these did not need public notification, three were approved and one declined.
Of the remaining 21, the council was awaiting further information. 14 applications involved rural land and seven were in Masterton's urban area.
August's subdivision numbers are mirrored throughout the rest of 2006 and it raised the interest of district councillors this week wondering if the rush is because people were scared the new plan may bring in restrictions.
Councillor Brent Goodwin asked if there could be a breakdown provided of how many consents altogether were being requested and what they were for.
District Planner, Sue Southey agreed it had been a busy time with an average of 10 consents being issued per day at present, on all manner of activity. Subdivisions, which have been in the public arena, recently include Solway Property Developments, which is subdividing 15ha of farmland into 117 sections in the South Belt/Solway Crescent area. The council held a hearing on August 15 and a decision is pending.
A proposed farm park on the Weraiti hill, which proposes 54 housing sites within a 74ha development, is with the council but not yet publicly advertised.
Other applications siting with the council and needing further information include a proposal to extend Miro Street and subdivide into 14 lots, the subdivision of 11 sites on Otahome Road, near Riversdale, another subdivision of 16 lots on Riversdale Road, six lots in Millard Avenue, six lots on the Masterton-Martinborough Road, and numerous two, three, and four lot applications to subdivide in Waipipi Road, the Loop Line, Morris Road, Lees Pakaraka Road, Fleet Street and Solway Crescent.
The draft Wairarapa District Plan was launched at a special function in the Frank Cody Lounge of the Masterton Town Hall yesterday.