Concerns that a new subdivision proposed for Cornish Point would spoil the uninterrupted views of large open spaces were raised at a Central Otago District Council planning hearing in Alexandra on Tuesday.
Cornish Point Developments has applied to subdivide 109ha into five lots, ranging in size from 15.2ha to 22.6ha.
Building platforms are indicated on four of the five lots.
The hills at Cornish Point are visible from many parts of Cromwell, although they are not officially designated as an outstanding landscape area.
Hearings panel chairman John Lane wanted to know how the houses would be hidden from view.
"How do you plonk four houses in on those hills and disguise them?" Mr Lane asked at the hearing.
Speaking on behalf the developer, BTW South resource consents and planning manager Kate Scott, said the houses would be located in dips and valleys so they would not be visible.
"We are not just finding the biggest open spaces on the hills and plonking them there," Ms Scott said.
Mr Lane asked if the four building platforms chosen were in the most hidden places.
Miss Scott said they were, taking into account the contours of the land and ability for servicing.
Anna Clark, who lives on Cornish Rd, was concerned the building platform for lot 1 was just 180m from her house.
Mrs Clark said her property was zoned rural, and so was the proposed lot 1, and she was against having two residences in such close proximity.
"Our enjoyment of our property will be diminished by the close proximity of a neighbouring house on a raised platform," she said.
"It will be impossible to feel we are not under constant observation and it will be an invasion of our privacy.
"Privacy is a valuable amenity."
Mrs Clark produced photos of the proposed lot 1 building site to illustrate her point.
Miss Scott acknowledged she had not looked at the lot 1 platform from the place where Mrs Clark had taken her photo, and agreed that particular platform breached the skyline.
Central Otago District Council planning consultant David Whitney said rural subdivisions had no rules on the distance between houses on different sections, although buildings had to be 10m from the boundaries.
On rural-residential land, there had to be 50m between buildings.
