The district's new hearings panel heard its first resource consent applications last week. Instead of the traditional three-person panel made up of Central Otago district councillors, the new panel comprises two independent commissioners and two councillors.
The change in structure was needed after long-serving panellists John Lane, of Roxburgh, and Terry Emmitt, of Cromwell, were voted off the council.
They have been returned to the panel as independent commissioners and join Crs Martin McPherson, of Alexandra, and Neil Gillespie, of Cromwell.
It is Cr Gillespie's first time on the panel but Cr McPherson served the past three years as a hearings panellist, as well as an earlier three-year term.
Council planning and environment manager Louise van der Voort said this would be the first time the council had appointed commissioners to the panel for routine resource consent hearings.
''The council has used independent commissioners ... from time to time, usually when there might be a conflict of interest or if specialist expertise is required on the panel, for example, Project Hayes,'' she said.
''We have done so in this instance as we are required to have a certified chair [under the Making Good Decisions programme], and also to maintain a level of expertise and consistency in decision-making.''
The independent commissioners would be paid at the same rate as elected members, which was dictated by the New Zealand Remuneration Authority, so there would be no increase in costs per member. However, an additional trained commissioner was necessary while Cr Gillespie was being trained.
''This will add a small increase to the total hearings costs.''
The additional panel member would add about 10% to the hearing cost, or 5%-7% to the total application cost, she said.
''All those costs are recoverable from the applicant.''
Mr Lane has chaired the panel since 2001 and was acting chairman at last week's meeting. The council will appoint a panel chairman at its December meeting.
• Miranda Barnes and Simon Callaghan have applied to operate travellers' accommodation in an existing dwelling in Pisa Moorings to cater for up to nine people.
The building was a house with attached double garage. Those using the accommodation were mostly in groups of up to five people, comprising families and groups of friends, averaging five people at a time.
They had advertised it online in the past for short-term rentals of up to two days or more. The main potential effect was probably noise and traffic but noise and disturbance during occupancy were low and no complaints had been received from any neighbours.
''We describe the location as quiet and safe, and as a result tend to get families, often with elderly relatives who appreciate being away from bustle and noise,'' they said in the application.
In the past, average occupancy had been 62 days a year. Planning consultant David Whitney said the applicants had provided affected people approvals from all neighbours that shared a boundary with the property. Their approval supported his conclusion any potential adverse effects would be minor.
He recommended consent be granted, subject to eight conditions. The panel reserved its decision.
