A proposal to extend the area of outstanding landscape value on the Sugarloaf landform near Cromwell is proving to be a contentious issue, with 50 related submissions received by the Central Otago District Council.
The CODC's hearings panel heard submissions on deemed plan changes to variations within the Central Otago district plan, including the Sugarloaf proposal, at a meeting in Alexandra yesterday.
Of the 74 submissions received on 16 proposed changes, 50 related to plan change 2W, which would alter a council map to include the full extent of the Sugarloaf's terrace risers (from valley floor to terrace edge), within an existing area of outstanding landscape value.
Twenty-one people, organisations, companies, and groups submitted on the proposed change, some up to 14 times each.
Opposing submitters Pisa Cove Ltd and Minaret Resources Ltd each made 14 submissions, highlighting each company's ownership of Sugarloaf land and intention to develop it into residential subdivisions and horticultural blocks.
Minaret said extended classification of the land as outstanding would render the Sugarloaf useless in practical terms.
Both companies had vested parts of their land in the council as public reserve and wanted to be able to develop the remaining land as intended in consented applications.
Some supporting submitters asked the council to make the entire Sugarloaf and some adjoining land outstanding.
A planning report recommended the council accept in part those submissions, so the outstanding classification applied to the Sugarloaf terrace riser but not the terrace tread.
The council's district plan officially became operative this year.
Yesterday was the first of what will be many days of hearings in Alexandra, during which submitters voiced their concerns to the panel before it made final decisions about contested changes.
Decisions on this week's hearings will not likely be available before June 30 next year, after which appeals can be lodged with the Environment Court.
Hearings for further plan changes will take place today.
