Up to 1000 people a day are expected to visit a heritage farm show and museum based at the Cromwell racecourse, the man behind the project told a planning hearing in the town yesterday.
Lester Rowntree, of Motueka, has applied for resource consent to establish and operate the New Zealand Heritage Farm Show and Museum on a 5.4ha site at the racecourse leased from the Central Otago District Council.
An independent commissioner, Denis Nugent, heard the application yesterday and has reserved his decision on the matter.
Five submissions were received.
Two supported the application, one opposed it and two were neutral.
Mr Rowntree said he had a vast collection of horse-drawn vehicles, machinery and rural artefacts and had been performing with Clydesdale horses and bullock teams for many years at A and P shows all around the country.
His show would be a tourist attraction based on the early days of farming in New Zealand.
He planned to construct a main arena building, a shed, stock shelters and a 12m-high windmill on the site.
The main activities would include demonstrations by teams of Clydesdale horses and bullock teams, as well as examples of rural tasks such as making butter, milking, shearing, working sheepdogs, flax milling, rope making and flour milling.
Visitors could also watch a farrier, saddler, wheelwright and blacksmith at work.
The business would be open every day of the year, from 9am- 6pm, and would employ at least 10 staff.
His estimate of visitor numbers was based on the agridome in Rotorua.
Patronage would build up over a few years, rising to 1000 people a day during peak holiday time, he said.
The council's planning consultant, David Whitney, recommended the application be granted, subject to 31 conditions.
"The proposal will have positive effects by providing an opportunity for members of the public, including tourists, to learn more about the early days of farming in New Zealand," he said.
"We note that there are several tourist attractions adjacent to State Highway 6 which are based on New Zealand history and/or horticultural and viticultural development.
"Examples include the mining centre in the Kawarau Gorge, orchard tours at the Jones Fruit Stall, the Big Picture viticulture experience and the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka airport."
This proposal would complement those, Mr Whitney said.
"We also consider that the proposal will have positive effects in terms of employment and economic activity in this part of the district."
Downer EDi Works Ltd plans to centralise its Central Otago operations at the company's Parkburn Quarry site, north of Cromwell.
It has applied to relocate its Alexandra and Wanaka depots to the site, while still retaining small depots in those towns for storing machinery and plant.
Six submissions were received, all opposing the application.
Five were from the owners of neighbouring vineyards, who were concerned about the increase in traffic and dust and said the industrial activity was inappropriate in a rural area.
Central Otago District Council planning consultant David Whitney recommended the application be granted, subject to 20 conditions.
He said the area to be used was a relatively small one within a 59ha site and so the rural character of the site would be maintained.
The decision on the matter was reserved.
