Legal appeals against the $75 million Parkins Bay golf resort at Glendhu Bay, near Wanaka, will be heard in the Environment Court in February.
Three parties have appealed a Queenstown Lakes District Council resource consent decision which granted Glendhu Station farmers Bob and Pam McRae permission to proceed with an exclusive golf resort on their land at Parkins Bay.
The McRaes' business partner in the venture is Queenstown developer and golf course designer John Darby, whose company, Darby Partners Ltd, is also behind Central Otago golf course resorts such as Millbrook, near Arrowtown, and Jacks Point, near Queenstown.
The Upper Clutha Environment Society, Queensland-based Wanaka holiday home owner Dennis Thorn and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust lodged appeals in the Environment Court against the QLDC's resource consent decision.
Commissioners Neville Marquet, of Dunedin, and David Clarke, of Arrowtown, granted the 200ha golf course, visitor accommodation, and residential resort consent by way of a majority decision in May. Commissioner Jane Taylor, of Queenstown, voted against the development.
The developers predict the Parkins Bay Golf Resort will pump $10.7 million a year into the Upper Clutha economy and create up to 210 jobs.
The appellants consider the development will have significant adverse effects on the landscape and amenity values of Glendhu Bay.
The Environment Court has set aside two weeks for the appeal proceedings, starting on February 22.
