Two parties affected by a Skyline Enterprises proposal to build a 449-capacity car-park building next to its base terminal have come out strongly against it.
Skyline applied for a resource consent for the four- or five-level building in Octoberlast year as an add-on to its proposed $100million redevelopment of its gondola complex.
It would sit behind a rebuilt bottom terminal in Brecon St, and would be used by gondola patrons, staff and other Ben Lomond reserve users.
Zipline operator and Skyline neighbour Ziptrek said it opposed the proposal on the grounds it would have adverse effects on the Ben Lomond reserve and surrounding area.
It was also "inappropriate" in an outstanding natural landscape.
The company was concerned a public recreation reserve would be used for a commercial car park, and regarded the proposal to be contrary to the operative district plan, the proposed district plan, the Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill reserve management plans, and the council’s town centre transport strategy.
The Otago Regional Council opposed the application on the grounds Skyline had not gained approvals for stormwater management. There were also risks to the proposed car park from natural hazards, including rockfalls and landslips, during and after construction.
Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park said it supported the proposal, but was "extremely concerned" about the control of construction traffic and parking for those working on the car-park building and other new developments in the area.
Heritage New Zealand took a neutral stance, but recommended an archaeological assessment be carried out before construction began.
The Ministry of Education said it was satisfied any adverse effects from construction noise on Queenstown Primary School, which is about 100m from the proposed site, could be managed provided appropriate conditions were imposed.
Queenstown Preschool and Nursery also gave the proposal conditional support, saying the car-park building would need enough capacity to cater for the increase in traffic that would occur as a result of the expansion of the Skyline operation.
In an interim decision in August, Environment Court Judge John Hassan and commissioners Kate Wilkinson and Russell Howie said there was no reason to decline consent for the gondola complex redevelopment. The matter remains before the court.
