Northburn Wine Company directors are asking the Central Otago District Council to change conditions of a previous consent and grant retrospective consent for the continued operation of a small accommodation facility near Cromwell.
Tom and Jan Pinckney own and operate Northburn Station, Northburn Properties and Northburn Wine Co.
They lodged two applications to the CODC, seeking amended conditions for operating their Northburn function centre - for more visitors and longer hours - and to keep lodging up to six guests at a cottage.
Both applications were considered by the council's hearing panel at a meeting in Alexandra this week.
Mr and Mrs Pinckney were granted consent by the council in 2002, allowing them to construct and operate a commercial operation including wine tasting, retail sales of wine and gifts, a cafe-style restaurant, and a facility for weddings and functions at Northburn Station.
Conditions limited private functions to operate between 9pm and 2am, on an annual maximum of 15 days, and comprise a maximum of 150 people.
The retail and restaurant facility was permitted to be open between 9.30am and 9pm, seven days a week.
The couple asked for those conditions to be changed, allowing the retail and restaurant facility to be open until 11pm each day, and functions to be held on 20 days a year for up to 200 people.
Other changes were sought to conditions which referenced initial opening hours, plus operating days and capacity.
Three submissions on the proposed changes were received, one of which was supportive.
One solely opposed the extended opening hours.
Another opposed the changes in full.
CODC planning consultant David Whitney recommended the council change conditions allowing functions to cater for up to 200 people on 20 days a year, but to refuse the other changes.
Mr and Mrs Pinckney also asked for retrospective consent allowing the continued use of a cottage to be used as accommodation for up to six people - which Mr Whitney recommended the council grant subject to eight conditions.
Three supportive submissions were received on accommodation.
The panel reserved its decisions, which are expected in 15 working days.
