Mt Dewar Station subdivision approved

A simulation of how the lower slopes of Mt Dewar would look from North Ridge after 10 years, the proposed buildings to be in brown and the Coronet Peak road running through the picture. Photo: Treespace Queenstown

The controversial project, billed as New Zealand's largest commercially funded native reforestation project, features 43 cabins and 10 chalets for residential and visitor accommodation, and a lodge with event facilities and accommodation for 20 overnight guests.

The application by environmental enterprise Treespace Queenstown Ltd was the subject of a Queenstown Lakes District Council resource consent hearing in the resort in September.

The council's planning report recommended the application be refused because it was ``inappropriate'' in its current form, and the environment incapable of absorbing it.

The company aims to generate enough revenue from section sales to cover the costs of buying the station, the staged planting of more than 140,000 native trees and the ongoing management and maintenance of the 1768ha property.