A Queenstown architect in dispute with the Queenstown Lakes District Council over the costs of processing a resource consent is seeking to have more than $16,000 wiped from his bill.
Fred Van Brandenburg, of Flax Trust Ltd, has objected to council charges for processing a consent for subdividing land between Queenstown and Arrowtown into eight rural-residential sections.
A report prepared by council senior planner Adonica Giborees for a hearing in Queenstown today said Mr Van Brandenburg had requested a credit of $16,445.13 plus GST in costs incurred.
This consisted of a hearing deposit fee and additional payments to his consultants at two resource management firms, Clark Fortune McDonald and Associates and Vivian and Espie.
Mr Van Brandenburg first objected to the charges last November on the grounds of an ''inept'' report prepared by a council planner, Ms Giborees said.
''This is not accepted, and is viewed as a negative response to the recommendation contained in the planner's report.''
The consent was processed on a publicly notified basis. Six submissions were received, of which three were in partial opposition.
The consent was granted in November 2012.
Ms Giborees recommended the objection be dismissed, saying the time spent by Mr Van Brandenburg's consultants had occurred at his instruction, and the costs of the original hearing were unavoidable because of submitters' objections.
He was entitled to a credit of $234.60, which meant he owed the council $16,310.42 for processing costs, payable immediately.
