Farmers oppose housing project on fertile soil in Amberley

The Hurunui District Council has proposed the 34-hectare Rosewood Terrace development project between Highway 1 and Hursley Terrace Road, south of Amberley. The project includes up to 109 lots, which will provide residents of the Amberley Beach settlement with relocation options in the event of coastal erosion or sea-level rise. The council purchased this land for $3.8 million last year and plans to rezone the territory. The plan change notification was published in July and received 107 submissions, of which about 88% express objections, including the position of the Hursley Terrace Road farming group.

Local farmer Rose Hinton pointed out that neighboring landowners are demanding fairness, evidence, and consideration of public opinion. According to her, the initiative will lead to the irreversible destruction of high-productivity land, which contradicts the council's own district plan and will harm local agriculture. Farmers are urging the council to pause and examine the facts. Wayne and Jenny Chisnall, who have run an 80-hectare sheep and beef livestock farm on Hursley Terrace Road for 20 years, also expressed concerns. Wayne suggested considering the option of developers allocating lots within existing residential areas of Amberley instead of creating a new settlement across a gully from his farm. Jenny noted that the narrow Hursley Terrace Road is not adapted for heavy traffic, and Hinton added that beach access will also create difficulties due to the narrow Newcombs Road gravel road and passage through private land.

The council's chief strategy and communications officer, Judith Batchelor, stated that beach residents expressed a desire to move to the new site rather than into the town itself. Amberley Beach residents will be able to choose to move to Amberley by paying the full cost of the lot, whereas settlement residents will be offered lots in the new subdivision for $11,000 with the option of a lump-sum payment or payment through rates. Batchelor noted that Amberley is surrounded by high-productivity land, and this factor is taken into account in any developments, citing a recent plan change for the Totara estate, where an independent commissioner approved the creation of 42 lots on productive land.

Currently, council staff are preparing a summary of submissions for the second stage of consultations. Subsequently, an independent commissioner will be appointed to review all submissions and make recommendations to the council.