A contorversial sale of a piece of central Twizel to Meridian Energy for its new office block has been approved by the Mackenzie District Council, despite strong opposition from a community poll.
The only councillor opposing the sale, James Leslie - who represents the Twizel area - said this week not a lot could now be done to stop the sale, unless an independent planning consultant's assessment found the office substantially breached the district plan.
The 4010sq m site, known as the ''Bowling Green'', is valued at $569,420 and is next to the town's Market Square business area. It is zoned commercial, which includes office blocks.
Some Twizel people believe that is an error, and point to a 2004 plan approved by the community which set the land aside for road access to the town.
Mr Leslie conducted a poll on the sale, which he used to determine how to vote on the sale. The area's other councillor, Russell Armstrong, could not vote or take part because of a conflict of interest.
The poll, conducted both online and through the ''Twizel Update'' news sheet, drew 415 responses, representing 36.5% of the town's total population of 1137 (including children).
A total of 83.6% of respondents favoured Meridian shifting from its 1970s building on SH8 3km south of Twizel into the centre of town, but 67% were against the site proposed.
The council, at its meeting on Tuesday, approved the sale of the land subject to conditions, including its clearing planning requirements.
''The next step is to confirm there are no major difficulties with the district plan, Nothing can really be done until then,'' Mr Leslie said on Thursday.
If there were major difficulties, that could give people a chance to have a say if a publicly notified resource consent was needed.
Mayor Claire Barlow and the other four councillors voted for the sale.
Mrs Barlow said the Twizel Community Board had approved the sale and the council voting against it because of opposition would create a dangerous precedent.
Meridian's existing complex houses about 65 staff, but the company says it is no longer cost-effective to refurbish the buildings. It also wants staff to be a more integral part of the community by housing them in the town.
