FAQs

This consultation is to gather feedback that will inform the terms of a new Deed of Licence (DOL) for Upper Selwyn Huts that better reflects current needs and responds to potential future challenges.

The current Deed of Licence has been in place since 2015 and the terms of the licence no longer reflect the current situation. A new DOL will provide clarity and certainty for licence holders and residents, support responsible environmental management, and ensure fair obligations for everyone involved.

We are seeking feedback on the details of some terms for the new DOL. These include how long future licences should last, whether serious environmental events should end a licence early, whether a bond should be required to restore the land at the end of a licence term, and how a regular building condition inspection programme should be carried out.

Between August and December 2024, Council held a series of workshops with Upper Selwyn Huts residents and licence holders. These sessions helped us better understand the community’s priorities and concerns. The insights gained informed the consultation approach and the terms we are now seeking feedback on.

This early engagement was always intended as the first step toward a formal consultation process. Council has decided to run the formal consultation for five weeks in recognition of the significance of the decision for the community and to ensure people have ample time to provide feedback.

While Upper Selwyn Huts licence holders are directly affected by the Deed of Licence, the huts are located on public reserve land owned by the Crown and managed by Selwyn District Council on their behalf. That means decisions about licensing and land use affect not only the local community but also have implications for the wider Selwyn district - including environmental management, infrastructure costs, and fair use of public resources.

This consultation is open to anyone with an interest or connection to the area, to ensure decisions are informed by a broad range of perspectives and that outcomes are fair, transparent, and accountable to all members of the community.

This consultation is focused on the terms of a new Deed of Licence, not the specific costs. While the future licence fee will reflect the full cost of services and infrastructure, including wastewater, those amounts are still being finalised and will come into effect from 1 July 2026.

Council has already confirmed that licence holders will contribute 30% of the cost to install the new wastewater pipeline. That decision has been made and is not changing.

An ongoing wastewater service charge will also apply. Some licence holders have indicated they would like this cost moved from a targeted rate to a district-wide rate. Because that would affect ratepayers outside of the Huts community, Council will consult separately on that through the 2026/27 Annual Plan process.

In short, the current licence fee does not reflect the full cost of managing and servicing the area. Under a new DOL, the licence fee will change to reflect the actual costs of providing these services.

At this stage, the cost has not yet been determined. The outcome of the consultation will guide the direction taken and provide the basis for any future costs.

You can provide feedback by completing the online form linked on this page, or by printing and filling out the form at the back of the consultation document in the Key Documents section. Completed forms can be returned to a Council library or service centre, posted to Freepost 104 653, PO Box 90, Rolleston 7643, or emailed to huts@selwyn.govt.nz.