A Cromwell cherry orchard owner’s plans to subdivide have been opposed by a neighbouring winery concerned about the rural area becoming residential.
This week, the Central Otago District Council hearings panel heard an application to subdivide a cherry orchard on Ripponvale Rd into five allotments.
Four of the lots would be between 1.6ha and 3ha in size and landowner Peter Jamieson planned to sell a fourth 0.4ha lot to neighbouring Rockburn Wines.
A buyer was found for one of the allotments, but Mr Jamieson would probably continue to manage all sections of the orchard.
Landpro planning manager Werner Murray said the other subdivisions were for "future flexibility".
The application received three submissions in support, two opposed and four neutral.
At the hearing, Queenstown lawyer Maree Baker-Galloway, on behalf of neighbouring Rockburn Wines, said her clients, despite opposing the application, were not averse to the subdivision in theory, but the proposal was "ad hoc".
"If this consent is granted, it is clear that the future of the allotments could be residential."
This would ruin the amenity values of the area, and allow for potential future subdivisions, Ms Baker-Galloway said.
There should be a condition not allowing future residential developments on the allotments, she said.
Mr Jamieson planned to sell one of the lots, alongside Rockburn Wines, to the winery, which it was "still open to".
The other opposing submission was from the Otago Regional Council, which raised concerns about an alluvial fan on the site producing floodwater and debris flow.
Mr Murray said Mr Jamieson agreed to a condition for no further subdivisions, but the idea there could be no future residential developments on those lots was "unacceptable".
The alluvial fan was very slow moving and would not create floodwater or debris flow, he said.
The panel reserved its decision.
● It also heard an application for a resource consent application to create a subdivision for 21 apartments at Highlands Motorsport Park.
They would be between 122sqm and 276sqm and have a communal courtyard, part-owned by each apartment.
Developer Grant Aitken, of Pitlane Apartments Ltd, said even if consent was granted, the structures would not be built without presales.
The panel reserved its decision.
