Ōhoka subdivision battle reignites as Carter Group lodges fast-track bid

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Tim Carter and his father, Philip Carter, of Carter Group. (Composite image)

The Carter Group has formally lodged a fast-track application for its controversial Ōhoka subdivision, reigniting a long-running planning battle and frustrating residents who believed the proposal had already been settled.

The 152-hectare development on rural land would include at least 850 homes, a commercial village centre, a school or retirement village, recreational facilities and supporting infrastructure. The Carter Group says the project would help meet housing demand, generate an estimated $324 million for the Canterbury economy and support about 3000 full-time equivalent job years.

Oxford-Ohoka Community Board chairperson Sarah Barkle said the application was “no surprise”, but the fast-track process would reduce opportunities for community input.

Oxford-Ohoka Community Board chairperson Sarah Barkle says there is little community support for the proposal.

“It’s disappointing … because you just lose your community voice.”

Barkle said the recently completed District Plan had already identified where growth should occur and repeatedly found Ōhoka unsuitable for large-scale urban development because of infrastructure constraints, flood risk and long-term costs to ratepayers.

“I truly believe that if the subdivision goes ahead, the ratepayers are going to end up copping the fallout of it in the end.”

The Carter Group has formally applied to fast-track its proposed 152-hectare residential subdivision on rural land in Ōhoka.

Resident Róisín Magee said the proposal had already been thoroughly tested through the District Plan process and questioned why it was being reconsidered.

Residents and community groups could not compete with the resources available to a developer, she said.

“We’re all individuals. We’ve all got families, responsibilities, jobs and lives. This isn’t our full-time job.

The proposed subdivision at Ōhoka will create 850 homes if approved.

“What it really needs is a professional review by a professional person or a team of professional people. We don't have that.”

Magee also questioned the wider fast-track regime, citing an RNZ investigation into political donations linked to companies involved in fast-track projects. She stressed she was not alleging wrongdoing but said the situation “looks awful” and risked undermining public confidence in the process.

In its application, the Carter Group says the development is needed to address a medium-term housing shortfall outside Waimakariri’s main urban centres and argues the fast-track process would avoid years of Environment Court delays. Construction could begin within months if approvals are granted.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says his council continues to oppose the development.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said “any argument that that Waimakariri needs the growth is redundant – our District Plan has capacity for 17,000 additional homes over the next 30 years to accommodate growth”.

“This development is not wanted by the community and has already been rejected twice by independent commissioners as part of the District Plan process,” he said.

A Carter Group spokesperson said the company recognised the community had strong views but stressed lodging a fast-track application did not guarantee approval.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop rejects claims the fast-track process undermines local voices.

“We appreciate that people care deeply about the future of Ōhoka, and we understand why there are questions about what this proposal could mean for the community.”

The spokesperson said engineering and technical assessments completed over several years found the development could be serviced and flooding appropriately managed. The previous proposal was not rejected because of servicing or flooding issues but because of planning rules relating to transport, they said, noting further work had since been completed on transport and intersection upgrades.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said the proposal had already been through a comprehensive assessment before being accepted into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals process and would now be considered by an independent expert panel.

He rejected suggestions the process excluded community input, saying expert panels were required to seek feedback from councils, Māori groups, neighbouring landowners, relevant ministers and other affected parties.

However, he rejected the claims the process undermine the local voice.

“Fast-track does not bypass engagement. Applicants are required to undertake pre-application engagement and identify affected parties, and expert panels must seek feedback from a range of parties, including local authorities, Māori groups, relevant Ministers, neighbouring landowners and others they consider relevant.”

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said he would continue to oppose the project and rejected suggestions of political favouritism.

It is not yet clear when the independent expert panel will consider the application.