Highlands’ subdivision gets council backing

CROMWELL

THE green flag is likely to waved on a 57lot subdivision at Highlands Innovation and Technology Park near Cromwell.

A resource consent application from the Cromwell Motorsport Park Trust to create the sections with access from Cemetery Rd and Monaco Dr was presented at a meeting of the Central Otago District Council hearings panel yesterday.

The application is to divide almost 82ha into freehold sections of between 150sq m and 800sq m next to the motorsport park track and pit lane buildings and south of the Highlands Innovation and Technology Park.

Six submitters supported the application and two opposed it including River Terrace Developments, the company behind the nowdefunct plan change 13 proposal.

The company opposed the application based on its sequence of applications to subdivide land on the west side of Sandflat Rd which were declined by council.

The council did not share the same view.

According to its summary of the application tabled the current proposal differed from plan change 13 in that it was essentially an extension of the Highlands Innovation and Technology Park and any potential owners were required to become members of the Highlands Motorsport Club and would enter into ‘‘an emcumbrance with respect to the operation of the motorsport track’’.

‘‘In all the circumstances it is highly likely that the future owners of the allotments to be created will tend to be motorsport enthusiasts.’’

This differed from plan change 13 which was intended to create residential lots for the general market.

The NZ Transport Agency also opposed the application subject to further assessment on the transportation effects on the Cemetery Rd/State Highway 6 intersection and for mitigation measures to be identified.

Council’s recommendation was to grant the application.

The hearings panel reserved its decision.