No to cafe, but yes to restaurant

Approval has been given to build a function centre and restaurant near Putaruru’s popular Blue Spring – but the woman behind it isn’t happy.

Cheryl Waite has been trying for a year to get approval to build a restaurant, cafe and accommodation facility on her property next to the popular Te Waihou Blue Springs in Putaruru.

But after months of controversy between local iwi Raukawa and self-made millionaire Waite, an independent commissioner panel declined consent for the cafe.

The panel deemed that daytime activities would have adverse environmental effects on the wider Te Waihou area where the Blue Spring is located. The stance was supported by The Raukawa Settlement Trust.

However, approval was granted for a function centre and restaurant with opening hours from 5pm to 1am for a maximum of 120 people.

As was the hiring of a former woolshed for private functions between the hours of 5pm to 1am for a maximum of 60 people, along with accommodation for up to 15 people in the woolshed and three adjacent cabins.

Waite said there was no point in opening if it wasn’t a cafe, because the hours they’d approved wouldn’t work in the South Waikato, she said.

She planned to appeal and said she was dumbfounded at the decision as she was attempting to mitigate any adverse effects by planting $3000 of native trees, providing toilets and rubbish facilities for the abundance of tourists who are already visiting the spring.

There would also have been a opportunity for local iwi to run guided tours, sale of Maori souvenirs, and employment for up to 12 people.

Waite said it’s never been about making money for herself.

She simply wanted a community crying out for jobs to benefit from it, she said. ‘‘I think they are anti-me because I am a blonde Pakeha woman who came up with the idea when they didn’t and I didn’t offer them any money. But I have had to work hard to get to where I am and the opportunities it would create for their people would have generated a lot more money for them in the long run.

‘‘I thought logic would have prevailed in the decision but for some reason it hasn’t. What have I done wrong?’’

South Waikato mayor Jenny Shattock said it was not the outcome she expected either.

‘‘We did get an independent panel to hear it as we knew it was a complicated situation but, to be honest, I am disappointed [with the outcome],’’ she said.

‘‘I understand it was a split decision which shows Resource Management Act hearings are complicated and how tough the process is.’’

Shattock said the council encourages economic development of businesses and wanted to expand in the area but she also understood the position of iwi.

‘‘I do understand the issues for Maori and the impact it would have on the environment,’’ she said.

Raukawa environment group manager Grant Kettle said an increase in visitors was not wanted and Raukawa remained opposed to the application.

‘‘The Waihou and Te Puna are of great cultural and environmental significance to Raukawa. The cumulative visitor numbers will exacerbate the degradation of Te Puna, the Waihou and the surrounding area,’’ he said.