Evidence from witnesses called by the Queenstown Lakes District Council dominated the second day of an Environment Court hearing in Wanaka yesterday.
The Upper Clutha Environment Society has appealed a resource consent decision from the council which permitted Wanaka GP Dr Dennis Pezaro and his wife, Olywn Pezaro, to establish a building platform for a house in the Cardrona Valley.
The Cardrona Valley is classified as an outstanding natural landscape, and strict planning laws apply to development in the area.
Landscape architect consultant Rebecca Lucas, of Queenstown, said the proposed building platform and a house would be "appropriate" on the site, given the "insignificant" effects the development would have within the wider Cardrona Valley landscape.
Only public views of the building platform could be assessed by the court, because the Pezaros' neighbours had all given their written approval to the building platform and proposed development.
Those public views were "intermittently visible" while driving the Cardrona Valley Rd, Ms Lucas said.
Other public views - from the Little Criffel walking track - were a significant distance from the building platform, she said.
Lakes Environmental principal planner Jenny Carter, of Queenstown, said the development was able to be absorbed by the open landscape of the lower valley, which was already modified by farming activities.
Earlier, the Environment Court panel of Judge David Sheppard, deputy commissioner Owen Borlase, and commissioner Marlene Oliver took a helicopter flight over the Cardrona Valley to visit the site of the Pezaros' farm.
The group stopped at several points on the Little Criffel track to observe views of the landscape and the location of the consented building platform, Judge Sheppard said.
The Environment Court panel must decide whether to uphold the UCES appeal, which contends that the landscape of the Cardrona Valley will be adversely affected by the Pezaros' building platform given a dwelling will subsequently be built on site.
The Pezaros want to build on their 58ha property which they have farmed, part-time, since 1969.
They were granted resource consent in February for a 950sq m building platform on the property.
The consented building platform allows for a house no bigger than 400sq m with a height limit of five metres.
The Pezaros will need to apply for a separate resource consent to approve the final design, shape, and form of a future house.
The Environment Court hearing, which is being held at Oakridge Resort, continues today.
