Retrospective consent for schist quarrying at Earnscleugh has been lodged with the Central Otago District Council, more than a year since the operation was shut down for breaching district plan rules.
Queenstown company Steve Rout Contracting Ltd was ordered by the council to apply for retrospective consent or face enforcement action in July last year, when its quarrying activity at Fraser Dam was closed pending the consent process.
The company had extracted 3000cu m of schist rock over an area of 10,000sq m, where extraction of material exceeding 3000cu m or 2000sq m was a discretionary activity under the council's operative district plan.
CODC planning team leader Ann Rodgers said Steve Rout Contracting first applied for retrospective consent earlier this year but the council asked for more information and the application was sent back.
Ms Rodgers said additional information was provided in an amended application, which also included an archaeological assessment and landscaping plan.
She said the company originally intended to continue quarrying schist after gaining retrospective consent, although it had scaled the operation back and would leave the site untouched once rehabilitation was complete.
The quarry had remained closed since work stopped 14 months ago, and all machinery had long been removed, she said.
Submissions on the application close on October 8.
