A request for a grant towards the cost of a resource consent peer review had Cromwell Community Board members and council staff scrambling yesterday.
Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust executive trustee Janeen Wood asked the board for $10,686.38 to pay the peer review charge in the consent application cost for a cycle trail from Kawarau to Bannockburn, saying that amount was more than the trust had spent on its application.
The trust had offered to pay $3000 when it received the invoice last year, but no-one in the council could adjust the fee and it was "directed" to the community board for a grant.
The trust was a charity and the invoice had "come out of nowhere", Ms Wood said.
While the trust knew peer review was part of the consent process, it had not been told how much it would cost and "it was a bit of a surprise".
The trails were not ratepayer-funded and the trust could not access government funds until the project was shovel ready.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) interim planning and infrastructure group manager Lee Webster, looking at a laptop during the meeting, said it did not seem the process was incorrect.
A joint application had been made to CODC and Queenstown Lakes District Council to avoid duplicating costs and simplify the process.
Board chairwoman Anna Harrison said the board had no function in planning and should not be held accountable.
Board member Neil Gillespie said he needed to be convinced it was a board responsibility and not that of CODC.
Mayor Tim Cadogan said he supported that view and suggested the board decline the application and refer it to the council.
Trails brought money to all of Central Otago and the board needed to let the council know that, Mr Cadogan said.
The matter was referred to the next council meeting on September 27.
