Consent sought for agridome

Resource consent is being sought for a proposed $4 million agridome and farming tourism venture fronting State Highway 6 near the entrance to Cromwell.

Motueka farmer Lester Rowntree applied for consent, under applicant New Zealand Heritage Farm Show and Museum, to the Central Otago District Council.

Last year, Mr Rowntree gained support in principal for the attraction from the Cromwell Community Board, as well as consent to lease the land from Minister of Conservation Tim Groser.

In July, the community board indicated it would enter into a lease with Mr Rowntree for part of the Cromwell Racecourse Reserve, if consent for the lease was granted by the minister.

The 5.5ha site was Crown-derived and vested to the board.

Mr Rowntree's planned development included an agridome, bullock teams, blade-shearing, chaff-cutting, horse-and-wagon teams in action, and a museum of farm machinery.

A heritage farm show would also include demonstrations of cow-milking, butter-making, ploughing using a horse team, as well as other items of vintage machinery in action.

Deer and tahr would also form part of the display.

One submission was received on the original plan, supporting it.

Mr Rowntree is now seeking land-use consent to construct, operate and maintain the farm show and museum, which will include the construction of buildings.

Retail and associated activity within the rural resource area is non-compliant with the council's operative district plan, and consent is also sought for discretionary activities associated with commercial recreation capable of attracting more than 30 vehicle movements a day on public roads.

Signage would also breach conditions of the council's rules for limited sensitivity landscape.

People wanting to make submissions on Mr Rowntree's application for resource consent can do so before 4pm on February 11.

rosie.manins@odt.co.nz