Let's Talk About the Draft North East Waimakariri Urban Plan

With the help of community and stakeholder views shared already, we’ve developed a draft Plan (and Summary) for the future of the wider Woodend, Pegasus, Ravenswood urban area, and we now want to hear what you think of the directions proposed within it. So have your say in the survey below - submissions close 5pm, Sunday 4 October.

The Woodend, Pegasus, Ravenswood area is the fastest growing urban area in the District. Its population has climbed from around 2,100 in the mid-90s to over 10,000 in 2025 and is set to continue to grow substantially.

Additional residential and commercial land has recently been zoned for growth through the District Plan Review, and the Woodend Bypass project is progressing through the detailed design stage. Once completed, the new Bypass will alter how we access the area and provide an opportunity for Woodend centre to ‘reimagine’ itself.

Construction timing of the new Bypass is subject to central Government funding decisions and the Council is strongly advocating for a timely delivery.

We need to think carefully about how to manage growth and change, and about what our community needs going forward. We’ve listened to the many views shared already and our draft Plan responds to the key challenges and opportunities for this important urban area.

Where does the draft Plan apply?

The draft Plan’s focus is the urban areas of Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood and the land between. However, we acknowledge that there is a much wider catchment at play. Particularly for retail, recreation and social cohesion, the urban area’s catchment extends to the beach settlements, Tuahiwi, Waikuku and likely beyond.

The draft Plan doesn’t however cover topics for which there are separate work programmes in progress or issues that are too uncertain to address through this Plan at this time, including:

Natural hazards and related coastal issues; activities within the Tūhaitara Coastal Park; Pegasus Lake water quality; future urban rezoning; District Plan zoning appeals; development within Māori Reserve 873 (Tuahiwi); the future of the Pegasus Golf Course; and the alignment, planning and timing for the Woodend Bypass.

Drop in Sessions

You can come and chat with the project team about the Draft North East Waimakariri Urban Plan. Whether you have questions, ideas, want
to learn more or drop off a completed feedback form, we’d love to see you at one of our local drop-in sessions. These are being held at the Woodend Rugby Club at Gladstone Park:

• Thursday 17 September, between 5.30pm and 7pm
• Thursday 24 September, between 6pm and 7.30pm

We look forward to seeing you there.