Thousands of truckloads of fill are being dumped on Queenstown's Shotover delta, classified an outstanding natural landscape, with council approval.
Last August, Canterbury firm March Construction Ltd was ordered by the High Court to move 12,000 truckloads of dirt from a Frankton site, which it completed early this month.
Queenstown Lakes District Council documents reveal the dumping site, approved by the council without public notification, is council-owned land near the Shotover River.
Consent was approved in November, despite a report from Marion Reid, a council consultant, raising concerns.
Council planning practice manager Blair Devlin said in an emailed statement issues were addressed through consent conditions.
The end result - creating a grassed, naturally contoured slope resembling a river terrace - would be considered an environmental improvement, he said.
Landscape architect Dr Reid's concerns were over environmental issues.
Her report said the earthworks ''would have an adverse effect on the character of the landscape'' and the extent of the effect ''would be significant''.
However, the council's report approving the consent, prepared by consultant planner Alice Burnett, considered effects to be ''less than minor''.
Mr Devlin said evidence was taken into account by the council ''but is not bound by it''.
Dr Reid's report recognised other consented activities in the area, he said, including gravel extraction and wastewater treatment plants.
The council yesterday confirmed it was using the site to dispose of waste from the Eastern Access Rd.
