A Queenstown man's proposal to create a perfumery selling scents made from the native taramea - or speargrass - plant, is now awaiting resource consent approval.
Production of the perfume is proposed to take place in the Taramea Winery, the original winery in the Wakatipu area, the operation of which is largely on hold.
The application was made by Taramea Trust, which consists of the man behind the idea, Michael Sly, his mother and Taramea vineyard founder Ann Pinckney and Cargill Trustees Ltd.
While the applicants propose a small amount of wine still be made and tasted on site, they aim to process the plant matter into perfume on site, and sell it from a small "boutique" showroom.
When approached by the Otago Daily Times, Mr Sly did not wish to comment on the proposed perfumery until the resource consent process had been completed.
It is understood Mr Sly has been working to make the commercial production of taramea perfume a reality for several years.
The proposal seeks permission for an extra 184sq m of additional buildings to cater for the commercial activity, as well as structural landscaping, a two-lot subdivision and a residential unit.
