A Central Otago District Council hearings panel heard an application in Alexandra yesterday for traveller and worker accommodation, a country-style cafe and shop, two residential buildings and a small-scale tourist activity on a 3.1ha site in Queensberry, on the intersection of Pukekowhai Dr and State Highway 6.
The plan includes four two-bedroom chalets, the occupants of which would mainly work on the site.
It would house farm animals that guests could walk past as in a ''friendly farm-animal interaction'' and also offer a ''small machinery experience'' with vehicles such as mini-tractors and quad bikes.
The application received eight opposing and 20 fully supporting submissions. All opposing submissions were from residents of the nearby Queensberry Hills rural-residential subdivision.
Some were concerned the tourist activities and accommodation would encourage criminal activity and theft from mailboxes.
In a written submission, Charles and Amanda Carnie said the people staying in the accommodation would probably be ''itinerant'' and there would be minimal security vetting.
The chalets would be close to the subdivision's mailboxes, from which the residents had had mail and parcels stolen in the past, they said.
Many submitters also opposed the commercial nature of the venture on a rural-residential site and thought the application was not in character with the rural amenities of the area.
Surveyor Peter Dymock, on behalf of the applicants, said insinuations seasonal workers were prone to criminal activity were ''derogatory and insulting''.
''The applicants believe these security concerns to be exaggerated and unfounded.''
Impacts on amenity values would be largely mitigated by landscaping with native shrubs, he said.
Resource consent was needed partly due to skyline breaches in the plan, but it was ''impossible to not to breach the skyline'' in the area, he said.
Mr Dymock recommended the removal of a proposed condition that dwellings be designed to achieve a 40 decibel noise limit, as it was ''not practical''.
Applicants Leigh and Robyn Mathieson plan to establish a hobby vineyard on the site and grow berries, currants and vegetables. At peak time they expect a maximum of 150 visitors per day.
Council planning consultant David Whitney recommended the application be granted with 33 conditions.
The panel reserved its decision.
