A former Queensberry landowner has taken aim at the ''unreasonable, unworkable and insane'' controls imposed by environmental planners and landscape architects in the Queenstown Lakes/Central Otago district.
In a written submission to the Queenstown Lakes District Council's draft annual plan, Invercargill man Doug Allan (80), a retired general surgeon and farmer, criticised the ''faulty'' credo of environmental planners who ''worship and hide behind 'Visual Amenity'''.
''In a nutshell, it seems to be hide the houses; stamp out colour; plant only native scrub; and bleed the client dry. No linear planting - what about shelter belts, poplars, orchards? No planting of exotic trees. How stupid is that?'' Dr Allan wrote.
''What a magnificent place Central Otago is with its spectacular views and vibrancy and spectacular colours. What a tragedy the planners are selling it short.''
Dr Allan recently sold a 25.5ha block of land at Queensberry - on which he had planted olives and forestry - following what he described as a ''horrific process'' to obtain consent for a building platform at a cost of $25,000.
He spoke to his submission at this week's draft annual plan hearing and said ''dictatorial'' planners and landscape architects were the ones responsible for destroying visual amenity by enforcing ''half-baked ideas''.
He implored Queenstown Lakes councillors and Mayor Vanessa van Uden to ''restore some sanity to the planning process''. Pioneers had done an admirable job of enhancing the district by planting exotics such as poplars and sequoias, which had long been synonymous with the local landscape, he said.
''For 150 years, farmers and station holders were Central Otago's landscape architects and sculptors without interference.''
Now, farmers were being instructed to plant native scrub or tussock, instead of exotic species, after decades spent clearing it. Farmers were a ''vital resource'' who must be listened to.
''The farmer is not the enemy. He needs to be able to generate income.''
While Dr Allan considered preserving the essential character of the district commendable, he said the character changed each year and the clock could not be turned back a whole century.
''I accept that certain regulations and conditions are necessary for orderly development. However, I do not accept that all signs of human habitation must be eliminated.
''The idea of preserving visual amenity by hiding houses, burying tanks and using only earth colours is just a warm fuzzy.
''It would lift the spirit of both tourist and inhabitant to see some innovative architecture and coloured roofs.''
Several years ago, Dr Allan publicly criticised the ''mausoleum mentality'' of Civic Corp, Lakes Environmental's predecessor, for making Lake Hayes Estate, near Queenstown, and Cardrona, near Wanaka, appear ''drab, dingy and depressing''.
While the situation had improved slightly in those areas, the philosophy at Lakes Environmental had not, he noted in his written submission.
Lakes Environmental did not get back to the Otago Daily Times when asked for a response to Mr Allan's submission.
