Upper Clutha Environmental Society members vowed at their annual meeting last night to continue defending the Queenstown Lakes district plan, despite fears the society might become insolvent and have to fold.
Society members demanded an explanation from Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks, who is also on the Queenstown Lakes District Council's strategy committee, as to why the council was seeking Environment Court costs awards against the society, which was often the council's strongest ally in defending the district plan against appeals by developers.
Mark Ayre said the society was "being stabbed in the back".
The council has applied for costs against the society in two cases, Pezaro and Matukituki Trust, where the society led appeals against decisions granting consents for building platforms.
The council is seeking a percentage of its estimated $54,000 and $83,000 costs in the respective cases, but has not said how much.
The court has yet to issue decisions.
Cr Cocks said the committee's decision to seek costs was not unanimous.
He would not say how each of the seven members voted.
He said the society did a great job, but the council was keen to reduce appeals to the key issues and not argue peripheral points.
"But do you appreciate by applying for costs, you destroy us? . . .
It will be interesting to see what the judge says," Mr Haworth said.
"I agree," Cr Cocks replied.
President Denis Schwarz expressed concerns about the difficult financial year for the society and warned it could get harder to take part in resource management issues.
"The likelihood of having to give security for costs is a particularly difficult one for us ... If the court got pedantic about security for costs, we may not be able to be represented at a hearing, without putting up security from committee members ..."
There was a disincentive for people to become involved in the resource management process, because of the cost.
Six society members, two reporters and Cr Cocks attended the hour-long meeting, at which Mr Haworth also announced he had decided not to resign, despite notice given at last year's meeting.
Mr Ayre presented the society's financial records, which showed an operating balance of $8898.
Income for the year was $64,561 and expenditure (the bulk on court costs) was $54,365.
