Queenstown Snowmobiles Ltd has applied to the Central Otago District Council for resource consent to operate guided snowmobile trips on Nokomai Station, to locate temporary structures on site and to allow a helicopter to land and take off.
Submissions close on April 2.
The site is classified as an Outstanding Natural Landscape in the district plan and the Nevis Plateau wetland was deemed to be an area of significant natural value.
In its application, the company said the Garvie Mountains site was above the Nevis river and road.
There was no formed track, so winter access was only by helicopter.
It sought consent for a maximum of seven helicopter trips to the site a day, from June till September.
Approached for comment, company director Pat West said he thought the consent would be ''straightforward''.
If consented, the venture could start this winter, he said.
The company has a 20-year recreational permit from the Crown and was seeking resource consent for the same term.
A minimum 30cm snow cover was needed for snowmobiles to operate.
Each trip would involve a maximum of six customers and one guide and would take about 45 minutes, travelling to the edge of the Roaring Lion Creek, avoiding waterways and wetland areas, the application said.
The base camp would be next to an existing rocky outcrop, which would provide shelter as well as being a landmark for helicopter pilots.
A 500-litre tank on site would store the fuel for the snowmobiles.
Snowmobile equipment would be housed in a temporary tent structure and within a storage shed on the same site.
The shed would be a similar design to a small musterer's hut, painted dark red.
The tent would be dismantled during the summer months.
The application applied only to Crown pastoral lease land that had no public access.
The lessees, Brian, Ann and James Hore, had given their approval for the venture, Snow would provide protection for the underlying flora and because the snowmobiles would quickly pass over the areas, there would be no permanent compaction or adverse effect on the land beneath.
The proposed use of helicopters would not significantly alter the landscape and amenity values of the wilderness and back-country areas, the application said.
A large separation distance would be maintained between the site and the neighbouring properties, including public land.
The activity would not be visible from the Nevis road.
