At a meeting hosted by the Oamaru Catholic Women's League yesterday, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said neighbours of the proposed Reed St motel, including nearby schools, could have been notified during the consent application process.
Mr Kircher told the group of about 20 people, including representatives from St Joseph's School and Glen Warren Kindergarten, he understood the council's ''fairly independent'' planning department viewed the site's current use as a rest-home - the 55-bed Rendell on Reed - as a ''similar enough activity'' to the proposed 55-room motel for the change in use not to affect its neighbours.
However, he believed the effect of a motel in the residential area would be greater than the rest-home.
''I have made the argument that there is a difference.''
Mr Kircher said it was important that planning department staff ''has an awareness of public expectation''.
Oamaru Catholic Women's president Coleen Blackmore said the group approached the council for a meeting about traffic issues in Reed St in July last year, but the ''mystery'' about what might happen at Rendell on Reed - and the effect it would have on traffic - would only ''exacerbate'' the traffic problem.
She was concerned that neighbours were not informed of the proposal and about the council's recent handling of non-notified consents that could affect neighbourhoods.
In February, former Waitaki district councillor Helen Stead called a public meeting to oppose a now scuppered deal whereby a non-notified resource consent decision would have allowed the redevelopment of the former North Otago Returned and Services Association building in Itchen St into a 24-hour call centre.
''It's got to stop,'' Mrs Blackmore said.
Council planning manager Peter Kloosterman said yesterday the processes outlined in the Resource Management Act 1991 were followed correctly.
Rendell on Reed is due to close in August.
