Neighbourly relations on Currie Rd look set to be tested
further, following the decision of the Dunedin City Council
to grant a variation to the resource consent of Grandview
Gardens function venue near Outram.
Owners Jo and Wayne Lindsay say they are not satisfied with
the council's decision because it did not go far enough for
them to increase their operation, while their neighbours say
it did do enough to rein in the operation.
Mrs Lindsay called the decision disappointing and upsetting,
and said the couple were considering appealing to the
Environment Court.
Their Currie Rd neighbours said they were also considering
their options.
The Lindsays applied to vary their consent to increase the
number of functions from 48 a year to 88, and to allow more
people at a function.
But Mrs Lindsay said the main purpose was to clarify
conditions they had breached unintentionally by having staff
clean up at the venue later than the consented time. The
couple also wanted a venue sign at the end of the road, among
other things.
Four submissions from neighbours were received, three opposed
and one neutral, and the council's consent hearings committee
of Crs Andrew Noone, Kate Wilson, Teresa Stevenson and
Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board member Martin Dillon issued
its decision to the parties last week, after a two-day
hearing and a site visit.
It decided to varied the Lindsay's consent to add six new
week-day functions during winter and and two non-profit
charity functions annually, but did not allow more summer
functions.
It increased the number of people allowed at a function from
100 to 120 and altered function hours so guests could leave
slightly later, 30 minutes before the site needed to be
vacated by staff and service people.
But Mrs Lindsay said 30 minutes was not enough time to clean
up and having daytime functions in the winter was "useless"
to them.
They had no issue with new conditions to have travel, traffic
and dust management plans, but were not happy with having to
produce a noise control plan, believing there was no issue
with noise, nor with being required to clean up the side of
the road after events no matter who put the rubbish there.
She was also concerned about a ban on photographers taking
photos on the road outside the venue.
The main concerns of submitters were about the effects of
more events on the amenity of the area, previous breaches of
existing conditions, the practicality and enforceability of
consent conditions, the lack of a break from functions during
winter and the effects of dust and traffic on the country
road.
Karen Warrington, one of the opposing submitters, said she
was unhappy with the committee's decision, but the neighbours
as a group were still considering their options with regards
to an appeal.
Mrs Lindsay said they would decide this week whether to
appeal.
"We have spent $41,000 on this so far, so I almost think we
have to. It's our livelihood we're talking about."
Both sides said they were unhappy with the consent process
and the personal nature of certain things saidat the hearing,
while the committee noted its disappointment with thenature
of some matters raised in the submissions.
- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
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