A Central Otago quarry could be rezoned in order to establish a "comprehensive marina-style development" with 300 sections on Lake Dunstan.
At a meeting in Alexandra yesterday, the Central Otago District Council approved the notification of plan change 21 — a private plan change request from Fulton Hogan Ltd — to develop 118ha of land at Parkburn Quarry into a combination of residential, business and industrial uses.
The area, about 10km west of Cromwell, is bounded by Lake Dunstan on one side and State Highway6 on the other.
Initial designs filed in the council agenda showed more than 300 residential lots, a retail centre, moorings and waterfront apartments.
There was also a zone for a school.
A report from council principal policy planner Ann Rodgers said the purpose of the proposed plan change was to provide for a more efficient and appropriate use of the site post-quarrying activities.
The proposal adopted the provisions of the proposed plan change 19 — a suite of changes to the way the district’s residential areas are zoned and managed — and included 81.15ha of low-density residential area.
It also included amendments to the business and industrial areas distinct to the Parkburn site.
The proposed business zone was specific to neighbourhood-type activities — convenience retail, cafes and limited travellers accommodation.
The industrial zone would reflect current activities, the report said.
"The grounds on which we can reject them are quite narrow," she said.
"I’m of the opinion there’s no reason to reject this proposal."
Councillors had three options of how they could proceed with the request under the RMA.
They could process it as a resource consent, adopt it as a council-initiated plan change with the council paying the associated costs, or agree to it being notified as a private plan change.
The third option was the one they agreed to.
Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie said the request was "pretty much a procedural thing at the end of the day".
"There’s no grounds identified of which we can say no," he said.
When contacted, Fulton Hogan declined to comment, saying as the proposal was part of a process it would be inappropriate for the company to say anything.
