Northlake hotel fails to generate any support

A proposed hotel in Wanaka's Northlake special zone has met with almost unanimous disapproval from members of the public making submissions.

None of the 72 submissions made to the Queenstown Lakes District Council in relation to Northlake Investments' resource consent application, were in support and one was neutral.

Most submitted the 113-room hotel was not in keeping with the residential nature of the area and there were concerns about noise, lack of parking, safety, extra traffic and the loss of green space.

Northlake residents are prohibited from objecting to the developers' planning proposals and the Wanaka Community Supporting Our Northlake Neighbours Incorporated Society was formed recently in an effort to ensure they had their say.

The society does not feature in the list of submitters.

There are 32 identical submissions from people outside Northlake and others with similar wording.

The submissions state the hotel contradicts the Northlake special zone consent.

"A hotel business with bus park and associated traffic of large numbers of tourists in a residential area is not a fitting activity.

"A large number of local residents are clearly opposed to the hotel proposal but are prevented from saying so by the purchase contract the developer insisted upon.

"It appears anti-democratic."

The neutral submission was from Public Health South team leader Tom Scott who pointed out hotel activities were "likely to adversely impact" residents.

"These relate to the hours of operation, noise from vehicles, other associated operational activities, and increased traffic flow in and around residential streets."

And, he said, the hotel would result in lost open space.

"It has long been recognised that community and open spaces are important for our wellbeing."

Mr Scott said the potential for more than 250 hotel guests and workers could put pressure on remaining community spaces.

"The applicant does not offer to offset the loss of this community space by offering an equivalent accessible space that the community are able to use."

Mr Scott said Northlake might not have considered the "likely impacts" on residents.

"This application would appear to promote an outcome that is contrary to the provision of Part 2 of the Resource Management Act, as the loss of open/green space will adversely impact how the residents live."

He asked for a condition of the consent require Northlake to provide an alternative community open space "with an equivalent amenity" in close proximity to residents.

Northlake did not respond yesterday to an email seeking comment on the submissions.