Obtaining a quartet of resource consents to build luxury visitor accommodation on the shore of Lake Hayes and remedying past tree felling so as to finish the project that began in 1998, was the "dearest wish" of the developer, independent commissioners heard yesterday.
Commissioners John Matthews and Cath Gilmour heard the opening submissions regarding the "fiendishly complicated" consent applications by Meadow 3 Ltd from its counsel, Phil Page, on the first day of a two-day hearing at Crowne Plaza, Queenstown, yesterday.
Meadow 3 holds subdivision and land use consents to develop the 200ha Threepwood property, near Lake Hayes and Ladies Mile.
Mr Page told commissioners a cottage design consent in 2004 required an arborist's report and significant tree removal and pruning occurred following it. However, some of the work in 2005 was not authorised by the consent order.
Arrowtown resident Fred van Brandenburg and the Queenstown Lakes District Council took Meadow 3 to the Environment Court in 2007. The court declared the 2004 land use consent was invalid and could not be exercised until a variation had been obtained. Six building platforms were invalid because of tree removal.
The court decision was "a catastrophe for Meadow 3 Ltd", Mr Page said, which prompted an appeal to the High Court that led to the land use consent invalidation being set aside.
"The result of the High Court's decision is that we have a valid land use consent for each of the subdivision allotments, but in certain respects, the land use consent has been breached," Mr Page said.
Resource consent was now sought to change conditions for retrospective tree felling, limbing and pruning at the Strains Rd property to mitigate the breaches. Subdivision consent was sought to adjust boundaries on five lots, move building platforms on five lots on Marshall Ave and return the landscape to its picturesque condition before 2005.
Meadow 3's resource consent plans included the restoration of the 100-year-old homestead to its original character and changing the interior for a restaurant, commercial kitchen, library and lounge. The 19th-century woolshed would be used as an indoor day spa.
Signal Management Group project manager Ross Martin said the planned 10 villas were essential for generating income for the proposed $10 million lodge.
"Reducing the number or size of the cottages could well be fatal to the feasibility of the development proposal," he said.
Mr Martin said visitor accommodation was always going to be provided as part of the consent order in 2004. However, much of the detail was being applied for now.
The hearing continues today.
