Tekapo businessman Anthony Tosswill lodged an Environment Court appeal on October 19, weeks after a panel of independent commissioners rejected his bid for consent to build a 17-storey hotel and apartment tower opposite the Dunedin Town Hall.
Details of the Environment Court process have been sketchy since then, although Mr Tosswill told the Otago Daily Times in November he was working on changes to the building’s design.
He could not be reached for comment yesterday, but the ODT understands a two-day mediation hearing involving more than 20 parties — including Mr Tosswill — is scheduled to begin on April 10.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan confirmed, when contacted, the chamber was among parties to the appeal, and would be participating to support the hotel project.
He was encouraged by Mr Tosswill’s perseverance and hoped the "significant changes" being worked on would "be seen as more acceptable".
"We’d hope that there would be an opportunity to get something like this off the ground.
"It’s great that Mr Tosswill and his group are still showing an interest in Dunedin and trying to make something happen," Mr McGowan said.
Mr Tosswill unveiled design changes during last year’s consent hearing, in response to criticism of the building’s height and dominance, which would reduce the building to 12 storeys above ground.
However, the panel of independent commissioners, in deciding to decline consent, concluded it could only consider the application based on the original design.
Mr McGowan said a survey of his organisation’s members showed strong support within the business community for Mr Tosswill’s project.
That was despite 206 of 271 submitters to the hotel’s consent hearing opposing the project, and the more recent public enthusiasm for the redevelopment of the city’s waterfront — including the concept of a low-rise five-star hotel.
Mr McGowan said the waterfront concept, developed by Damien van Brandenburg with help from Ian Taylor of Animation Research Ltd, was a potentially 30-year vision.
Mr Tosswill’s hotel could be breaking ground within months of obtaining consent, injecting millions of dollars into the city’s economy during the construction phase, he said.
"There can be some pretty immediate benefits from some of that," he said.
It was also possible Mr Tosswill would have to opt for a fresh consent application, depending on the extent of the changes settled on, Mr McGowan said.
Another party to the appeal, heritage advocate Peter Entwisle, who opposed the hotel project, said a new design would be essential, but might not be enough to avoid the need for a fresh consent application.
"They [the court] may well just say ‘oh well — go and try to get a consent for that’."
Hotel timeline
Jan 2016: DCC confirms talks under way with unnamed party to secure multimillion-dollar, five-star hotel on council’s Filleul St car-park site, opposite town hall.
Oct 2016: Confirmation DCC has deal with NZ Horizon Hospitality Group Proprietary Ltd, headed by Tekapo businessman Anthony Tosswill, to progress 18-storey, 200-room, five-star hotel, apartment and office complex. Cost estimated at $50 million - $75 million.
Nov 2016: Building redesign after original concept prompts concern from some quarters.
April 2017: Resource consent application lodged.
July 2017: Independent planner recommends consent be declined amid concerns about height and visual dominance.
July 31, 2017: Seven-day resource consent hearing before panel of independent commissioners begins. Further design revision suggested by Mr Tosswill.
Sept 29, 2017: Panel declines consent, based on original design, citing "significant" concerns over height, visual dominance and shading of the Octagon.
Oct 2, 2017: Mr Tosswill signals further design changes.
Oct 19, 2017: Environment Court appeal lodged by Mr Tosswill.
