The Queenstown Lakes District Council is defending its decision to decline a resource consent application for a Dalefield Rd subdivision.
The council declined Geoffrey Wilson's resource consent application to divide his 2.76ha property into two lots in May last year. He has amended the application and appealed the decision to the Environment Court.
The council's lawyer, Graeme Todd, told the court council was concerned about the development's impact on the Dalefield Rd landscape. He said it would result in over-domestication of the pastoral area.
The application had been amended to reduce the proposed building platform on one of the lots from 1000m2 to 720m2 and moved to a less visually prominent site.
Three neighbours appeared in court to support the council's decision. Judge Brian Dwyer reserved his decision.
