Since construction of steampunk-themed tearooms next to the Friendly Bay playground began about three weeks ago, the Otago Daily Times has received at least three complaints from members of the public that the venture had not been notified and could reduce access to both the beach and the bay's boat ramp.
The development was non-notified because its effects on the district plan were deemed less than minor, and Waitaki District Council corporate services group manager Carolyn Carter said plans had received resource consent three years ago.
''Council owns the land, which was commercially leased to the developer in 2007 and plans for building tearooms at the site were finalised following approval from council.
''This approval process included the tearooms gaining a resource consent in 2010, and discussion and approval of designs through council's harbour subcommittee.''
She said the tearooms would be located at the same site as a kiosk of the early 1900s.
She said that before the lease was issued, the council had consulted the North Otago Branch of the Historic Places Trust and the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust and had been advised the location was suitable.
''Recognising that the tearooms would take out some public access and views, works along Marine Parade were redesigned to stop the road near the Oamaru Rowing Club, to increase the expanse of the park around the tearooms and enable uninterrupted public access to the water's edge.''
The tearooms had been specifically designed to be compatible with the steampunk carnival playground concept, she said.
Waitaki Ratepayers and Concerned Citizens Association chairman Warren Crawford said he had fielded several calls from ratepayers who had complained about the development.
The Oamaru Rowing Club has also expressed concern the development could reduce access to the harbour.
A spokesman said the harbour was the only place available for rowers to learn and train, but there were also bigger concerns with the development of the harbour, which was being carried out with ''little or no effective input'' from users.
''We raised questions about this development when work started over a month ago and although this request was acknowledged, we received no information on the size, scale or leased area involved.
''We wonder how events like the midwinter swim and multisport events will be able to continue with so little open space close to the harbour access. ''We have previously raised these concerns with council and thought they had been recognised and understood.
''However, as many of the features in the harbour were either not included or are in a different location from the last plans we saw, we have no idea what may happen next.
''So although the club thinks it is great that the harbour is being developed and new uses are being encouraged, we do not believe this should come at the expense of existing users. We also believe that if those users had been engaged with earlier rather than later, or not at all, then some better overall outcomes could have been achieved.''
