Lodge plan ‘better’ than McMansions, court hears
A luxury lodge built in a secluded cove near Queenstown would be a better outcome for the community than “McMansions”, the Environment Court has heard.
Waimarino Queenstown Ltd counsel Bel Matheson presented the case for the 24-unit lodge at Bob’s Cove, about 14km from Queenstown, on Monday.
Resource consent was previously declined by the Queenstown Lakes District Council and has been appealed by the company.
Matheson said planning rules would allow four “McMansions” complete with swimming pools, paving and grass frontages to be built on the 1.8-hectare site.
The Waimarino proposal, which included a spa, sauna, yoga studio, restaurant and guest lounge, was “different to what might have been anticipated but that doesn’t mean it’s inappropriate,” he said.
It included smaller buildings, a lower building height and the buildings would be surrounded by native plants.
Presiding Judge Prudence Steven said that regardless of the differences between the proposals, the four-unit proposal was provided for under planning rules agreed by the community.
Matheson said the Waimarino proposal was “different but better”. All of the surrounding neighbours had given their consent and those who objected to the plan lived hundreds of metres away, he said.
Ben Farrell and the Bob’s Cove-Punatapu Community Trust have objected to the plans. On a Givealittle page raising funds to assist with the $94,000 court case, the trust says it is concerned about the scale, intensity and suitability of visitor accommodation in Bob’s Cove.
There was a risk of losing the “uniqueness” of a special place.
“We are not opposed to the development of four residences on the land as is allowed under the District Plan, but we are opposed to intensive commercial visitor accommodation in this outstanding rural residential zone,” the group said.
In addressing the concerns of Bob Farrell, Matheson told the court the restaurant would only be open to guests and members – not the general public.
The company would provide $50,000 toward predator control in its first year and $30,000 each subsequent year until it was no longer required, he said.
Judge Steven, and commissioners Kate Wilkinson and James Baines, went on a site visit on Monday afternoon and the case was due to resume in Queenstown yesterday. It is understood the council has changed its position and will now support the development following amendments to the plan.
Well-known resource management lawyer Graeme Todd was due to present the case for the trust.
Waimarino is owned by B Property Group, which also has plans for a luxury hotel in central Wānaka, known as Kitea, and a $30 million Queenstown house known as Pārore that is yet to be built.