Oamaru stone was not a "reflective" building material and had been used in homes nationwide for more than a hundred years, the Central Otago District Council's hearings panel heard yesterday.
Parkside Quarries of Oamaru is the sole supplier of the stone and its managing director Bob Wilson and solicitor David Rusbatch gave evidence during yesterday's hearings on the district plan changes.
The changes included excluding the stone as a suitable building material in rural areas because it stood out and was deemed to be too reflective.
"It's not reflective, as far as we're concerned," Mr Wilson said.
Rural Central Otago homes made up about 1%-2% of his market and the stone was popular because it was a natural product and because of its colour, he said.
Mr Rusbatch said the stone could be "finished" to reduce any possible problems with it being reflective.
It could be sawn, split or bolstered.
"In our view, as far as reflectivity is concerned, an abundance of glass in new homes is much worse."
The stone had a long-standing reputation as a good building material, was used in many award-winning homes, particularly in Otago, and fitted well in the Central Otago landscape, he said.
Asked by council planning consultant David Whitney about "gleaming, creamy Oamaru stone", Mr Wilson said he had never seen stone that was "gleaming and creamy."
When the stone was sealed, dye could be added to the silicon sealant to enhance the colour, he said.
Mr Rusbatch said it would be inconsistent if the council excluded or restricted the use of Oamaru stone and permitted other light-coloured stone.
He and Mr Wilson agreed with the planner's recommendation to the council that the stone not be specifically excluded as a building material.
Other provisions in the district plan relating to the colour of rural buildings would give the council a chance to study the potential visual impact of new homes in rural settings.
