Opponents of a Catholic primary school development, valued at more than $2.5 million, at Speargrass Flat valley, near Arrowtown, pulled no punches yesterday telling independent commissioners why it should not go ahead.
Eighteen opponents made submissions on the last day of the three-day hearing yesterday, highlighting noise and traffic issues.
The church application was described as "naive", "spurious", "excessive" and "ludicrous", as opponents drove home their message, that it was well beyond the applicable zoning.
The church has acknowledged the proposal does exceed the district plan limits in gross building floor area, earthworks and maximum exposed soil.
Opponent Ralph Henderson, a professional planner for the Queenstown Lakes District Council, made a personal submission, saying the proposal would change the nature of the existing amenity to one "significantly more urban in nature".
"Like a number of other submitters, we share the concern that this is the thin end of the wedge. The applicant [church] will follow this application with subsequent applications to expand the school . . ." Mr Henderson said.
He said traffic volumes would increase by 50% on surrounding roads, and an estimate the school could encourage 45% of the pupils to use a bus service was "hugely optimistic".
Based on some traffic figures quoted during the hearing, the Otago Daily Times calculated overall vehicle movements could increase about 36%, from an average 640 vehicles to 876 per day.
However, bus use will be key to traffic volumes.
Opposing submitter David Clarke, a 20-year resident of the valley, and who is also an independent commissioner, made a personal submission yesterday.
He said a local newspaper had labelled objectors with the "somewhat derogatory" term nimby (not in my backyard) when they were in fact "raising legitimate concerns".
"They [pupils] are all going to arrive by car and bus. This is not sustainable to establish a facility in a location that is so remote from its users," he said of pupils arriving from Arrowtown, Lake Hayes Estate and possibly Frankton or Queenstown.
Unusually, the commissioners adjourned the hearing, for up to a month, for the church and opposers to produce and reply to more evidence on traffic and noise issues.
A decision could, at best, be six weeks away.
