The application by Shaun McLellan is discretionary. Under the district plan, the average allotment is no less than 8ha and the minimum area no less than 2ha. Thirteen of the residential lots range between 2.1ha and 2.74ha, with one 27.4ha and one 69.95ha.
Peter Dymock, a partner at Paterson Pitts, told the Central Otago District Council hearing panel in Alexandra yesterday the consent application complied with the district plan and variation 1, under consideration by the council.
Council planning consultant David Whitney had recommended the application be refused, saying adverse effects on the environment would be significant.
Residents were concerned about the visual impact and the number of vehicles on the unsealed road. There are no houses on the hills on either side of the valley and residents feared they would lose their privacy if houses were built there.
Earl and Bernie Attfield, who live close to the road that would service the subdivision, did not want to have cut down their trees, which would happen if the unformed road was used as access.
Mr Dymock said the applicant had every right to use the road as it was a legal road.
Peter Mirfield said he had been informed "it was only a paper road" and would not be used.
Developers of the proposed Melview (McArthur Ridge) had put in a submission asking the council to consider a building no-go zone so the development would not be visible from McArthur Ridge.
They also asked that Mr McLellan be required to connect to the Melview water and waste systems.
Mr Dymock said that was a thinly disguised attempt to get someone else to help pay for Melview's infrastructure.
While the applicant agreed the increase in traffic could be up to 120 vehicle movements a day, Mr Dymock said that was minor and it was unfair to expect the applicant to seal Waikerikeri Valley Rd or to make changes to the intersection with Springvale Rd.
Residents were worried the 3000 litres a day of treated domestic water would be inadequate as that was less than used by Clyde and Alexandra residents.
Mr Dymock argued gross overuse of water by residents in those two towns was an acknowledged fact.
The decision would be known within 15 working days.
