Willowridge Developments applied for resource consent to develop 118ha of rural land in Kane Rd into 13 residential sections. Most of the land, about 88ha, would be used as farm balance section not be developed to keep in with the surrounding rural character.
Wilding conifers on the site were to be removed and more than 1500 kanuka trees would have been planted if the development went ahead. A hearing on the consent application was heard earlier this month.
Queenstown Lakes District Council senior planner Sarah Gathercole recommended the application be declined.
In their decision independent commissioners Bob Nixon and Wendy Baker found while there was significant merit in the removal of wilding pines, they did not consider it sufficient to outweigh any adverse impacts created by the development.
Any negative effects of the proposal on the Clutha River terrace and escarpment, classed as an outstanding natural feature, would be more than minor and not adequately mitigated. Willowridge Development director Allan Dippie had not yet read the decision when contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday but said there was a high chance the company would appeal the decision.
"We expected a lot more opposition but we didn’t get any neighbours against it so we’ll see what happens."
Society secretary Julian Haworth said the decision to decline the application was sensible and it was interesting Mr Dippie might appeal the decision, in the context of the changes being made to the Resource Management Act in Parliament.
Those changes would deprive submitters in the community of the right to appeal to the Environment Court, he said.
