The hearing for Dunedin's Mercure Hotel's second resource consent application for a proposed six-storey annexe redevelopment, worth more than $5 million, has been postponed until late next month.
Hearings committee members and councillors Colin Weatherall, Richard Walls and Andrew Noone were expected to listen to submissions yesterday but due to the unavailability of the resource consent applicant, the hearing was postponed until February 28.
The first resource consent application by Auckland-based CP Group, which bought the 125-year-old former Wain's Hotel in 2004, was rejected as it did not encompass the existing Mercure Hotel alongside the two buildings at the centre of the development.
The present resource consent application attracted 17 submissions, with nine opposing any development, At least four submitters are expected to make their case to the Dunedin City Council's resource consent hearing committee.
Council staff have reserved two days for the hearing, with a reserved decision expected within three weeks.
Submitters for the development said it would be good for the city and Exchange area would have little overall effect and would improve use of the area, while those opposing cited issues such as impeded views noise, loss of sun, demolition of older buildings, loss of privacy shading, loss of heritage values and concerns about the height.
The Historic Places Trust opposes the development believing the 1929 Arkwright building, which would be demolished, was of significant heritage value and worthy of protection, while the proposed six-storey annexe was not con sistent with the heritage characteristics of the precinct.
