This week the Central Otago District Council hearings panel made public a decision to grant consent for Dunedin's mayor and his wife to subdivide their property, and land use consent to build a dwelling.
The site includes a 1.4ha holiday home allotment on Munro Lane and another 2.8ha allotment on its southern border which the Culls plan to subdivide into two sections. They plan to sell the 1.7ha and 1.2ha sections.
In a written submission to the hearing last month, the owners of Cluden Station, whose property lies on the Culls' southern border, said the new subdivision would compromise the open space and natural character of the area and create an almost "settlement'' environment with four houses in close proximity.
Cluden Station co-owner Leslie Purvis said yesterday she was "disappointed'' at the decision.
"We've lost; we won't be taking it any further. We've got to get on with it.''
She declined to comment further.
Mr Cull said he was happy with the decision.
In response to the comment the subdivision would create a settlement environment, he said "one of those settlements is theirs''.
"This would just add one more house.
"I go back to what the planner said, which is the effects would be no less than minor.''
He generally stayed at the property every month, he said.
It required resource consent because under the district plan rural subdivisions creating allotments under 8ha in average size or a single allotment of less than 2ha are considered non-complying activities.
The council can grant consent regardless, provided the adverse environmental effects are minor and the sites otherwise comply with the district plan.
They were granted the subdivision with 18 conditions and land use with 14 conditions.
A second submission supporting the subdivision was sent by Peter Jolly, whose farm covers the north, east and west sides of the Culls' property.
