A dispute involving consent for the construction of two
dwellings and associated buildings at St Bathans will not be
resolved until early next year, unless parties can
successfully mediate within the next five weeks.
Environment Court judge Jon Jackson said an appeal hearing on
the matter would be pencilled in for the last week in January
or first week of February, unless mediation was successful
before May 29.
At a pre-hearing conference in Alexandra recently, he gave
parties a six-month schedule for preparing and circulating
evidence in case a hearing was required.
Applicants David Ford and Kimmer Griffith, of Naseby, were
granted consent to build in a rural resource area subject to
outstanding landscape value, at St Bathans, by the Central
Otago District Council in March 2008.
The development site is close to the St Bathans Historic
Precinct, and the aplication was opposed by individuals and
groups including the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and St
Bathans Heritage and Environment Preservation Trust.
Others supported the development and said it would be an
asset to the village.
Some feared it would diminish the cultural and heritage value
of the area.
Judge Jackson heard from party representatives at the
conference, during which it was agreed mediation was
preferred to court proceedings.
The trust's counsel, Russell Ibbotson, said amended
development plans had come from a previous mediation, but
they were not acceptable to the trust.
Mrs Griffith said she was prepared to mediate further on
minor details, although a hearing would be necessary if
opposition to the amended plan was major.
"At this point this has to come to an end. I would like to
address it as soon as possible," she said.
After May 29, parties will give evidence by successive
deadlines, which will end on November 27.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.