A commissioner chairing a hearing into resource consent for a $10 million, 195-berth marina on Lake Wakatipu has rejected a resolution from the Queenstown Lakes District Council backing the proposal.
Denis Nugent, chairman of a joint Queenstown Lakes District Council-Otago Regional Council hearing, said the panel would disregard a QLDC statement issued to media on Friday.
He said the QLDC had refused to provide information in support of the development, by Lakes Marina Projects Ltd, during the hearing.
''The council's view is that this is a sound proposal and we hope to conclude a mutually agreeable proposal with the developers,'' council chief executive Adam Feeley said in the statement.
Lakes Marina Projects Ltd is seeking consent to build a $10 million marina on the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu.
Traffic control around the busy Frankton Rd entry to the proposed marina on Sugar Ln was one of the major concerns raised.
Asked if the marina could not operate until the intersection was upgraded, Ian McCabe from NZTA said Sugar Ln was ''in the mix in our seven-year programme, but it is further down the list. Queenstown is not the only area the transport agency has to invest in in terms of intersections.''
The developer has pledged $25,000 to partially fund the road works.
Mr McCabe said: ''This buys an opportunity but isn't a guarantee because of programming issues.''
Responding on behalf of Lakes Marina Projects Ltd, Warwick Goldsmith warned the panel that the prospect for investment was limited.
''There is a significant opportunity for this community and a lot of work has gone into this. There is a long history of trying to create a marina here.
"If the proposal put forward isn't agreed or we are told to wait seven years [as per NZTA upgrade] they [Lakes Marina Projects Ltd] will walk away. The opportunity will lapse.''
On the final day of the hearing, Mr Nugent, along with fellow panel members David Whitney and Martin Ward, questioned the applicant in relation to traffic issues, residents' concerns over views and issues surrounding public access.
The development company is owned by Queenstown businessman Alan Kirker and California-based entrepreneur brothers Nasser and Iraj Barabi.
The panel has reserved its decision.
- Louise Scott
