Shotover Country's lawyer said yesterday hearing commissioners faced a "simple choice" over whether to approve the proposed 750-house development.
However, questioning at the development's plan change hearing revealed the area earmarked for a primary school might be used instead for up to 150 houses if demand for a school was lacking.
The $300 million-plus proposal allows 10 years to determine whether a school would be established on the 3ha site, and if the Ministry of Education were not interested, it could be otherwise developed after that point.
At yesterday's final day of public hearings, Commissioner Cath Gilmour voiced concern that the school was integral to the proposed community and without it, traffic out of the development would significantly increase.
Shotover Country lawyer Warwick Goldsmith said that, in line with the development of Lake Hayes Estate, 10 years was a realistic time-frame for growth to support a school, and it would be "ridiculous" to have empty land sitting at the heart of a community.
If the plan change was approved, it could make an "easy decision" for the ministry, he said. He was waiting on a report from the ministry to help clarify the issue.
"We are aware that the ministry is currently investigating a need for schools ... that there will need to be another primary school somewhere in the Wakatipu basin."
Infrastructure would cope with the increased load from more residents, but Mr Goldsmith said he would have to get further advice on traffic issues.
Mr Goldsmith closed the Ladies Mile Partnership's submission by restating that commissioners had an important choice to make - choose Shotover Country, or choose privately owned lifestyle-block subdivisions.
He said there had been no evidence presented by any submitters to make commissioners concerned that "the few provisos cannot be adequately met".
Incorporating the plan would, in his view, accord with the "common-sense, gut-feel approach".
"Granting consent would go a significant way to enabling a significant number of people through the positives that will come out of this, to provide for their economic and social wellbeing," Mr Goldsmith concluded.
Neighbouring landowners Preston and Helen Stevens submitted that the plan had potential to complete a ribbon of urban and suburban sprawl that extended all the way from Central Queenstown to Lake Hayes.
QLDC senior policy analyst Karen Page spoke in response to criticisms of bias aimed at her report by Mr Goldsmith, and again said the plan should be rejected.
Also speaking in support of their submissions were neighbouring landowners Ruth and Russell Jones, followed by evidence from Shotover Country planning consultant Karen Hanson.
The meeting was adjourned to allow commissioners to await further information from Shotover Country, and begin the lengthy deliberation process.
"It's not a rapid process. As you can see, there's been an awful lot of information and this does take weeks ..." commissioner Leigh Overton said, "but we will eventually come out with something that will be pretty interesting for some people, in fact for everyone."
• The Queenstown Airport Corporation opposes the Shotover Country proposal, rather than supporting it as reported in the Otago Daily Times on Thursday.
