However, the Queenstown Lakes District Council has defended this week's decision by independent commissioners not to publicly notify developer John May's proposed subdivision, as government changes to the Resource Management Act had provided more leniency towards non-notification.
"Frankly, I'm disgusted," Mr Howarth said in an email yesterday.
"John May claims to be an environmentalist. If this is really the case he can and should insist on having the Emerald Bluffs application, which is on his land, publicly notified."
Mr May, of Longview Environmental Trust, said the application had been through a "fair and thorough process" and advisers for both Emerald Bluffs and the council had reached the same conclusion.
"To my knowledge, this is the first application in an ONL in which all parties assess the effects to be no more than minor," Mr May said.
He described his proposal as a "rare and unique situation" because of the efforts made to preserve the landscape, which had been "successfully implemented and proven" on the already consented part of the 90ha site.
"The proposal presented is of highest quality, provides certainty, respects the environment utmost and makes a strong commitment to carry out the development and ecological restoration work to the highest standard.
"The overall effect will add to, rather than detract from, the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area ... I am proud of the proposal and delighted that funds saved through the non-notification process can be put towards removal of wilding pines, revegetation and pest control."
Mr Haworth also levelled criticism at the council.
"There is a growing trend for this council, under this mayor, to facilitate development at the expense of the most important landscapes around Wanaka and Hawea.
"There is a High Court decision that says that all applications in rural landscapes should be notified under this District Plan. We should be told why the QLDC is ignoring this."
However, QLDC general manager of corporate and regulatory services Roger Taylor said the 2009 Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act had changed the tests for notification.
A two-step process required the consent authority to assess whether effects on the environment were more than minor, and whether effects on any person were minor or more than minor.
The Emerald Bluffs application had passed both tests, he said.
