A residential building platform in an outstanding natural landscape overlooking Lake Hawea has been approved by independent commissioners.
Glen Dene Ltd has been granted consent to put a 1000sq m building platform at Dinner Flat on Glen Dene Station, on the western side of Lake Hawea near State Highway 6.
The platform was to enable better functioning of the farm operations, the applicant said.
It would house a farm worker's dwelling; a lodge for the farm's guided hunting operations; or a dwelling for an equity investor in the farm.
A curtilage area of up to 5000sq m was also proposed, along with a 3.5m access track connected to an existing farm track.
The proposal is a discretionary activity on rural general land and was considered by commissioners Denis Nugent and Lyal Cocks at a hearing last month.
Two neutral submissions were received.
One was from the New Zealand Transport Agency seeking proper provision for the platform's access to SH6.
The other was from the Guardians of Lake Hawea, which was concerned with potential visibility of any buildings on the proposed platform and sought recognition the site was within an outstanding natural landscape.
The commissioners attached a series of conditions to the consent, including that the buildings not exceed 4.5m in height and all exterior cladding and roofing materials within the building platform be of muted colours with a low light reflectivity level.
Landscaping using natural-looking, indigenous plants will soften the appearance of the property.
