Council to appeal rural subdivision decision
Wednesday 7 July 2004
The Queenstown Lakes District Council said it would appeal a controversial Environment Court rural subdivision decision in the High Court, a move that could cost ratepayers up to $100,000.
By The Landlord
Mayor Clive Geddes said, after a special council meeting last night, the council voted to appeal the Environment Court ruling which overturned a council decision to decline Hawthorn Estate's 32-lot Lower Shotover subdivision. The public was excluded from the discussion.The appeal could cost the council between $80,000 and $100,000 but Mr Geddes said, after consistent legal advice, the council believed the decision "involved several errors of law" .
It would set a precedent for additional rural development in the Wakatipu Basin, which would be contrary to the wishes of the community and to the council's interpretation of the district plan.
Last week council chief executive Duncan Field said the decision was a "big shock" and could prompt a flood of more intense rural subdivision applications.
There was a real risk of serious over-domestication on the site bound by Lower Shotover, Domain and Speargrass Flat roads, Mr Field said last week.
Read More - Opens in a new window
Commenting is closed
House Prices
House price drops are short-lived - Alexander
Periods of house price decline are rare and "short-lived", says economist Tony Alexander, amid forecasts of a drop of 10%-15% this year.
Commercial
Resilience needed in face of change
The Reserve Bank says the commercial property sector is vulnerable to the Covid-19 crisis. But PMG Funds' chief executive believes that while there’ll be short-term pain, the biggest long-term impact will be structural change.
Mortgages
Mortgage lending slumps to record low in April
Mortgage lending fell to its lowest level on record last month as the property market ground to a halt during the Covid-19 lockdown.
