Opposition to ‘rural retreat’

A proposal to build a ‘‘rural retreat’’ accommodation facility and restaurant in the quiet hills above Haumoana has locals vowing to fight it all the way.

Millar Road Ltd has applied to Hastings District Council for resource consent to build visitor accommodation, a small winery and other facilities at 83 Millar Rd, in the hills above the coastal community.

The proposal involves a 19.4 hectare block of land that presently has a vineyard and an established accommodation business with three dwellings on it. An existing road to the site, Millar Rd, is within the Tukituki special character area, while the proposed development is on land in the city’s rural zone.

The development is on two distinct and separate sites. It includes a two-storey reception building, a two-storey restaurant/ conference centre with a wine bar, pool and spa, five two-storey accommodation units, two twostorey buildings with up to 10 bedrooms, five villas, and a gym/fitness building with a lap pool and tennis court.

John Trail, who owns land nearby on which he hoped to build a house, said the development would have a ‘‘major, negative impact on neighbours’’.

There were more than 30 landowners against the proposal and 23 letters of objection had been sent to the council.

‘‘This large commercial development is absolutely not appropriate for a rural site immediately next to the peaceful Tukituki special character area,’’ he said.

‘‘If I had wanted to be within shouting distance of a hotel, restaurant and bar, I would have bought a home in the centre of Havelock North. I sincerely hope the council denies this development proposal.

‘‘Many of my neighbours have been in this area for decades and bought here for the peace and the rural lifestyle. We are incredibly dismayed that this development could possibly happen. It is totally out of character with both the spirit and zoning of the area,’’ Trail said.

He said the proposal should be publicly notified.

The company’s application said although the proposed work was a discretionary activity at a greater scale than permitted under the Hastings District Plan, it was not ‘‘necessarily discouraged by the plan’’, and public notification was not necessary.

Millar Road director Greg Collinge said ‘‘it’s early days with our consent and people the council deem to be affected will get notified and will have the chance to make a submission’’.

‘‘Our intention is to absolutely enhance the country feel of the property. It’s reasonably bare at the moment other than our vineyard. The proposal contemplates a massive native regeneration planting plan ... which we may look at covenanting to protect for the future,’’ Collinge said.

‘‘We’re really just trying to expand on our existing offering, which is for visitors looking for a secluded rural retreat that is quiet.

‘‘We’re not trying to establish an events centre. If we do have events, our proposal allows us to contain any noise better than we do presently.’’

A council spokeswoman said the council would decide whether the application should be notified.

The proposed Millar Road development would be split into two sites. The buildings on the left would be replaced by new facilities as part of its ‘‘upper’’ site. Its ‘‘lower’’ site would lie to the right of the large shed in the distance.