A couple planning a dogsled touring business on the Old Man and Old Woman Ranges have sought resource consent to house up to 30 huskies on a rural property near Roxburgh.
The application from Curt and Fleur Perano will be heard by the Central Otago District Council's hearing panel today.
Because it is defined as "intensive farming" within 2km of an urban area, the couple need land-use consent to house the dogs.
They have been working with sled dogs and racing them throughout the United States, Alaska and Canada for the past five years.
Mr Perano this year became the first New Zealander to complete the Iditarod sled dog 1600km race across Alaska.
The couple plan to set up a dogsled touring business in Roxburgh, making use of the nearby mountain ranges during the winter months and using dryland carts in the warmer months.
They hope to capitalise on the extra visitors the Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold cycle trails will attract to the area.
However, they are only seeking consent at this stage to house the animals on a 9.8ha McElligott Rd property in Roxburgh East, not to set up the business.
The Peranos plan to buy the property if resource consent is granted.
The application said fenced dog runs would be at least 30m from the nearest property and kennels would be cleaned and disinfected daily, with solid waste disposed off-site.
The couple would live on site to care, exercise and train the huskies.
The nearest urban-zoned land was Roxburgh, 1.5km south and across the Clutha River from the property.
Trees and shrubs would provide screening and a noise buffer.
Neighbours within 500m of the husky enclosure had given their approval, as had a prospective purchaser of one of the neighbouring properties, Geoff Weller, of Weller Surveying Ltd, said in his report on behalf of the applicants.
"Our dogs mean the world to us and we would love to be able to share these amazing athletes with Roxburgh and the surrounding areas," Mr and Mrs Perano said in a statement with the application.
Council planning consultant David Whitney has recommended consent be granted, subject to several conditions.
He said a maximum of 30 dogs should be allowed on the property and the people responsible for the care, exercise and training of the animals should also live on site.
