Transit New Zealand has come out strongly against an application to develop a subdivision beside State Highway 6 north of Cromwell, saying it will disrupt highway traffic.
Pisa Cove Ltd has applied to create two rural-residential sections and 10 residential allotments on the corner of Clarks Rd and the highway about 8km north of Cromwell.
The proposed subdivision is directly across the state highway from Pisa Moorings and Perriam Cove.
Transit's acting regional planning manager, Ian McCabe, told a Central Otago District Council (CODC) hearings panel yesterday Transit was against the development because it believed people living in the new subdivision would interact with people living across the highway.
On the other side of the highway, the developers of the Perriam Cove subdivision plan to have a grocery store, restaurant, bar and conference centre.
Mr McCabe argued that would mean there would be pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road and eventually Transit would be asked to reduce the speed limit in the area.
That had already happened on State Highway 8B through Cromwell, where new subdivisions on the Lake Dunstan side of the road meant there were more pedestrians and cyclists using that stretch of highway.
Traffic Design Group Ltd Associate Andy Carr, appearing for the applicant, told the hearing he had carried out numerous studies which showed the increase in traffic resulting from the new subdivision would not have any major effects.
Mr McCabe said he did not question those studies, but the increase in pedestrian traffic and cyclists was still a real issue. He was also concerned about the future expansion of the area, saying Transit did not want to see ribbon development along that side of the state highway.
The applicant has offered to vest 33ha with the council as scenic reserve.
If the application is approved, the reserve would protect the foreground of the ‘‘terrace riser'' on the Sugar Loaf hill, which overlooks the area, from all development and secure the future of the Lowburn Collie Dog Trial club grounds.
It also provides for the missing link in the proposed public walkway from Lowburn to a car park on Clarks Rd.
The 10 residential allotments of between 1172sq m and 1641sq m have been clustered in the Clarks Rd and SH6 corner of the 180ha property.
The remaining area will remain as rural land, apart from the 33ha scenic reserve. The hearings panel reserved its decision.
