A group of irate Meadowstone residents has mobilised against a proposed multilevel apartment complex, which they say will change the face of Wanaka and destroy the residential community of their neighbourhood.
The group is upset by a resource consent application lodged by a company called Stoney Creek Village Ltd (SCVL) for a proposed 97-unit retirement village on a 1.84ha site on Mt Aspiring Rd.
Paul Molloy and Bruce McAndrew are spearheading the group of Meadowstone residents said to number more than 100 and want to raise awareness in Wanaka about the proposed multistorey, 10-building group of serviced apartments.
The pair said the development would not be a retirement village and was a sneaky attempt to construct a group of apartments, which would be out of character with the Meadowstone neighbourhood and wider Wanaka community.
The claims have been strongly rejected by SCVL director Tony Hannon.
"That's just nuts. This development will be a dedicated lifestyle retirement village that will be a long-term asset for Wanaka and its residents.
"It can't be construed as anything but," he said.
Mr Hannon has homes in Wanaka and Auckland. He grew up in Central Otago and was a founding director of Treble Cone skifield, when it was bought from Tourism Holdings Ltd in 2001.
Queenstown architect David Stringer has designed the complex, comprising 10 buildings of two or three levels.
The plans show 97 two-bedroom units, with 36 at ground level, 47 at first level and 14 at second level.
There are 90 car parks and ancillary facilities, such as administration, lounges, a gym, pool, library and "village green".
The retirement village would not provide advanced care facilities and would be operated under an occupation right agreement, whereby residents pay a lump sum for their unit and a weekly management fee.
The buildings marginally breach the 8m height limit in some places, which the applicant describes as "minor transgressions".
The Wanaka Urban Design Panel viewed the plans in December last year and has provided feedback to the developers.
"We are sympathetic to how locals see things and there is no question that we are prepared to sit down in discussion with any affected parties," Mr Hannon said.
Mr Molloy and Mr McAndrew were adamant the proposal was of the wrong type and kind "for this location".
Public submissions on the SCVL resource consent application can be made to Lakes Environmental and close on Thursday, December 18.
