Controversial US billionaire Peter Thiel has not given up on his plans for a luxury bolthole near Wānaka.

Thiel’s lawyers have lodged an appeal in the Environment Court against the August decision by an independent hearing panel to reject his proposal for a 2,000+sqm lodge on his Damper Bay property.

See also: ‘Billionaire’s proposed Wānaka bolthole refused by commissioners’

Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) president Julian Haworth said the society hoped the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) would defend its decision to reject the proposal.

The environmental watchdog group has asked to be a party to the Environment Court appeal.

“We are not interested in mediation,” Julian said. 

Thiel purchased his 193ha Damper Bay property in 2015 under the company Second Star Ltd.

It is in an Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL) zoned area with views out to the Glendhu Bay Track and Lake Wānaka. 

Plans for the lodge, designed to sleep 30 people, were first revealed in late 2021. 

See also: ‘US billionaire’s Wānaka luxury lodge plans’

A resource consent hearing for the lodge took place in May and commissioners Wendy Baker, Ian Munro and Glyn Lewers said in their decision the lodge would be “plainly visible” on the Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL) zoned land.

It would “significantly detract” from the qualities of the ONL and the negative consequences would far outweigh any benefits, they said.

In their August ruling, commissioners said the lodge would be “plainly visible” on the ONL zoned land.

QLDC planner Sarah Gathercole had also made an earlier recommendation to reject the proposal.

Thiel was controversially granted New Zealand citizenship in 2011, despite spending just 12 days in the country.

His citizenship was granted using a ‘public interest’ exception which was widely criticised at the time.

Thiel’s lawyers submitted their appeal on the lodge decision to the Environment Court on September 5.

IMAGES: Supplied