Thirty-nine submissions were received by Lakes Environmental by the closing date last week, with two in opposition and two in partial support.
Up to 35 backed the Otago Foundation Trust Board's proposal to build a new $1.2 million hall at the rear of the existing Arrowtown church, convert the vestry from a hall to a parish office, start restoration and landscaping works and adopt one of two parking options.
Arrowtown residents Rupert and Elizabeth Iles submitted the application should be approved on the condition a resource consent for the proposed relocation of the existing Millers Flat Church hall was in place first.
The Arrowtown Returned and Services Association was neutral on the application but was concerned more tree-planting on the Memorial Reserve could affect the skyline view of the Soldiers' Memorial.
Arrowtown residents Bryan and Helen McGillan submitted in opposition, unless the trust amended the proposal so it protected the historic Holly Hedge on Berkshire St.
Arrowtowners William and Dorothy McCall opposed both car-parking options because of the cost and because parking on grass verges was normal in a historic area and was accepted by the public.
Wakatipu Community Church parish council member Alan Brady, of Gibbston, submitted in support of the application and stated the church was ageing rapidly and was "hopelessly inadequate" to meet modern needs.
"If something is not done now there is a real danger the church will close and, inevitably, structural decline will accelerate," he said.
Mr Brady said the hall was used for a range of church and community activities, and it struggled to cope.
"For periods during most winters, the hall cannot be used because toilet and kitchen pipes are frozen. Kitchen facilities are inadequate [and] in the church itself, heating and lighting are substandard."
Arrowtown resident Claire Taylor submitted a new church hall was "desperately needed" on the proposed site. The present hall was often filled to capacity, particularly for the mainly music programme, and toddlers were able to run out on to the road from the existing parking area, Mrs Taylor said.
"A larger hall would enable more community activities, which are key to this transient area," she said.
"My own experience has been that the church has been key in finding stability and social contacts here in Arrowtown."
The Queenstown and District Historical Society submitted it had been in informed of the proposal as it evolved, and had inspected the plans.
The society supported the shift of the former Millers Flat Church and is "comfortable with the sympathetic use of modern building materials in construction of the new complex", but requested the car parking be kept minimal, in keeping with the historic town.
At a glance
• The materials and design of the proposed addition and alterations would be consistent with the 136-year-old church and include painted weatherboards, corrugated iron and pre-painted steel roofing.
• The adjacent 138-year-old Millers Flat Church, used as a hall since 1959, was proposed to be moved to a site behind Adams Cottage, on Buckingham St, under a separate consent application, which has not yet been lodged by the Arrowtown Trust.
• The detached porch behind the existing church complex would be restored and reattached to Millers Flat Church at its new location.
• The proposal featured two parking options: The first was for nine perpendicular parks on Durham St and two parallel parks further north on the street, all on road reserve. Another eight parks would be on Queenstown Lakes District Council reserve land next to the rear boundary of the site. In the second option, 12 perpendicular parks would be positioned on Durham St.
• The project is expected to cost $1.2 million. About $600,000 has been raised from community trust grants and funds on hand to the parish.
