Small motorhome park approved

A PROPOSAL billed as part of the solution to providing camping areas for motorhomes has been approved by the Central Otago District Council’s hearings panel.

Bannockburn couple Bill and Jenny Scott had applied to establish and manage a small motorhome park on Quartzville Rd.

They said they had planned to build the park for about a year, partly because the Top 10 Holiday Park in Cromwell was closing to make way for a subdivision project, and thought it could be part of the solution to the holiday park closing.

Central Otago District Council planning consultant David Whitney had recommended the panel grant the consent and the panel last week released its decision saying it had approved the application.

The motorhome park will allow a maximum of 10 selfcontained vehicles at the site, be aimed at the ‘‘grey nomad’’ age group and operate between October and April only.

The site would have access to the town water supply but not sewerage, as it was expensive, the Scotts said.

To dump sewage, campers would have to travel to a dumping station on Richards Beach Rd, 7km from the site near Bannockburn Rd, by the southern entrance to Cromwell.

Mrs Smith assured the panel there would be no freedom camping — people would pay to camp at their park.

The panel’s report said the motorhome park had the potential to have an adverse visual effect as it would be seen from the north of the site, but trees would be planted along the north side, and an earth bund had been formed.

Other measures to contain the visual effects included locating motorhomes more to the south of the site to start with.

Subject to these measures, the Central Otago District Council considered the effects of the park on the open space, landscape, natural character and amenity values of the rural environment would be no greater than minor, the panel’s decision said.

The motorhome park would have a positive effect by providing space for those with selfcontained campervans and caravans to camp at the site, the decision said.

One submission against the application had been received, citing adverse environmental effects.

A review condition to the consent was applied, to address any adverse conditions which may become obvious once the park was operating.