Developer Platinum Estates Ltd has put its case forward to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for a proposed 18-lot subdivision at Dalefield, near Arrowtown.
On Wednesday, the first day of a three-day hearing, Anderson Lloyd lawyer Warwick Goldsmith addressed commissioners Trevor Shiels and Cath Gilmour about the developer's plan to subdivide the $7 million block into 18 rural lifestyle lots.
Consent was sought to subdivide three lots, ranging between 2.76ha and 74.4ha, southeast and northwest of Little Rd.
This comes after years of landowner Mel Fordyce battling with the Environment Court and neighbouring residents to develop the land.
The newest proposal received 19 opposing submissions, most of which had come from neighbouring residents in Littles Rd.
Others to oppose include the Otago Regional Council, Southern 45 Enterprises & Crystal Lodges Ltd and Mr A. Harper, as trustee of the Mountain View Trust.
Most of the submitters indicated they wanted to be heard by commissioners.
Mr Goldsmith said the subdivision design had considered immediate and wider neighbour issues, the environment, the district plan provisions and market preferences.
He referred to Environment Court decisions made between Fordyce Farms Ltd and QLDC and Fordyce Farms Ltd and QLDC - collectively called the Fordyce decisions.
"The Fordyce decisions did not resolve the development potential and/or the future of this land resource."
He said local authority rates were based on the $7 million land value although the land did not contain a residential building platform or generate any income.
