Bus park proposed in Bowen St
A COMMERCIAL bus park is being proposed for a vacant site near Queenstown’s industrial area.
Gorge Road Park Ltd directors Lew Gdanitz and Eric Thomson are seeking land use consent to operate the 2686sq m section in Bowen St as a bus park, which would have capacity for 23 coaches, including 16 ski buses and seven rafting buses.
Submissions on the proposal close on Thursday.
All buses using the park would be singleaxle and either class 1 or 2. No buses of a larger class would be permitted, the application said.
The site, bordered by Horne Creek on the north, is on the north ern edge of the high density residential zoning within the Gorge Road Area, and prone to flooding.
It was ‘‘inundated’’ and covered in rock and debris during the November 1999 flood. However, extensive channel work to increase the capacity of Horne Creek had since been completed and the channel had also been lined with rock to prevent erosion during floods, the application said.
‘‘Given the site’s history of flooding and its proximity to Horne Creek, it is unlikely that any residential buildings would ever be approved on the site.
‘‘It is therefore considered that a bus park is efficient and appropriate utilisation of the site, particularly given the shortage of parking space for heavy vehicles within proximity to the Queenstown town centre.’’
Subject to approval, buses would depart and return to the site between 7am and 8pm, accessing it by two existing points from Bowen St, both of which would be sealed.
A certain level of noise was ‘‘unavoidable’’. However, that would be managed by ensuring only the smaller class 1 and 2 buses would use it, the application said.
‘‘There is a potential for incompatibility between the bus park and the residential dwellings [to the south and west of the site]. However, any adverse effects can be managed by appropriate conditions of consent, including restrictions on operating hours and the provision of appropriate screening along the Bowen St boundary.’’
At present the site had no significant amenity values and due to the flood hazard, a bus park was considered to be an efficient use of the land.
If approved, it would increase vehicle movements along Gorge Rd, but they would be negligible when considered against the existing volume of movements, the application said.
Landscaping would include vegetation planting along an existing post and wire fence to provide screening.