The Alexandra, Clyde and Districts Business Group, which has about 300 members, is launching a petition today calling for the Central Otago District Council and Vincent Community Board to "refocus" their efforts on the need for development, growth and the creation of jobs.
"A lot of the members of the business group are frustrated at being stonewalled and blocked with developments and being made to jump through hoops for no real reason," group spokesman Bruce Davidson said.
"The economic development of the area has stalled and stagnated, and it's not being helped by the council and its staff hindering development - there's an inbuilt mindset among them that development is not good and shouldn't be supported."
When asked by the Otago Daily Times to respond, Mr Lepper said the petition was "a waste of time and energy".
" ... they should use that energy working with us on solutions to what they see as the problems."
Mr Lepper said the group turned down a recent invitation to meet him, Vincent Community Board chairwoman Clair Higginson and council chief executive Phil Melhopt.
"We invited them to come and talk to us, but they turned us down and are now doing the petition instead."
The council had "limited resources" to devote to economic development but employed a business development manager.
"His focus is on the primary sector, which will help pull the district out of the slump it's in, and create jobs, and he's getting plaudits for his work with that sector, especially working with the likes of irrigation groups," Mr Lepper said.
Mr Davidson said the local authorities should look at the "big picture" and support developments that would boost the ratepayer base and create jobs.
The way the district plan was interpreted placed more emphasis on environmental reports than on the economic benefit of projects.
Mr Melhopt said the claim council staff were unsupportive and obstructive was unfair.
"Staff must uphold council policy, the RMA (Resource Management Act) and district planning provisions, etc. Yes, this often does create `hoops' for business folk to jump through, but for the right reasons of balancing economic and environmental outcomes."
