The Olive Leaf Centre Trust has appealed the decision by independent commissioners in November to turn down its proposal for a multipurpose parish and community centre on land beside the St Patrick's Church.
Trust chairman Colin Bellett said it lodged the appeal with the Environment Court in January after trust members met to consider legal advice on the decision.
"A lot of our supporters were bitterly disappointed it wasn’t approved, and still want to see it."
The Gaudi-inspired building, designed by Lake Hayes architect Fred van Brandenburg, divided opinion within and outside the township after it was publicly notified in 2017.
The proposal attracted 368 submissions — 218 in support and 150 opposed — and was the subject of a three-day resource consent hearing in September.
In their decision, commissioners Lee Beattie and Jane Sinclair said the project's design was ``remarkable'', but its scale, form and layout were inappropriate for the site and streetscape.
As is normal practice, the appeal has been referred to a court-appointed commissioner to arrange mediation between the trust and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
The council’s planning and strategy committee discussed the issue at a public-excluded meeting yesterday.
A council spokesman said he could not yet provide information on the discussion or decision made.
Asked about the prospect of mediation, Mr Bellett said the trust would welcome it. He understood a significant number of appeals were successfully resolved that way.
"We have never wanted to do anything that would upset anybody. We believe what we’re doing is going to be a wonderful asset . . "
