QLDC rejects criticism from Mt Maude Lodge owner
THE Queenstown Lakes District Council is not taking criticism from Lake Hawea businessman Dr John Cossens lying down.
Dr Cossens, who owns Mt Maude Lodge, plans to seek a judicial review by the High Court of what he describes as an expensive, stressful subdivision process.
But council general manager planning and development Tony Avery responded yesterday saying the council did not agree with Dr Cossens’ assessment, and would be ‘‘defending its decisions in the High Court’’.
He was unable to comment further as it was an ‘‘active court matter’’.
Dr Cossens told the Otago Daily
Times he was seeking more than $1 million damages from the council, as a result of council processes which were ‘‘in error, unreasonable and inconsistent’’.
Dr Cossens said he spent three years ‘‘battling the council’’ to get approval for a small rural subdivision and contrasted his experience with that of developer Universal Developments given approval for a 400lot special housing area subdivision nearby, in the same rural zone.
Mr Avery said there were ‘‘a few inaccuracies’’ in Dr Cossens’ comments.
‘‘When considering Dr Cossens’ application for costs against the council, the Environment Court upheld [the council’s] initial decision to refuse Dr Cossens’ application for subdivision at Mt Maude Lodge but granted an alternative proposal.
‘‘Dr Cossens subsequently applied to the Environment Court for costs against the council and his application was refused.’’
Mr Avery said in relation to the special housing area application, it was ‘‘important to note’’ that the proposal was processed under special housing legislation with the purpose of increasing the supply of housing to contribute to more affordable housing overall.
Dr Cossens’ application was for a rural living development in the rural zone. Dr Cossens also criticised the council for the ‘‘weight’’ it gave the proposed district plan in his application when it should have, in his view, abided by the current, operative district plan.
Mr Avery said he appreciated that the appeals process ‘‘can often be a difficult forum to navigate’’ but the aim of the district plan review was for the district to have an effective and practical district plan.
‘‘When appeals are made, [the council] needs to provide informed views which align with its overarching direction for the district.’’