American billionaire Peter Thiel’s proposed luxury lodge will go back under the microscope today (Tuesday May 24) as a two-day resource consent hearing to determine its future continues.

Yesterday (Monday May 23) independent commissioners Wendy Baker, Ian Munro and councillor Glyn Lewers heard from the applicant’s planner and landscape architect, as well as an ecologist and tourism expert. 

It will be up to the three commissioners to decide whether or not to approve the development, which has already been panned by a Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planner. 

See also: ‘Planner recommends refusal of billionaire’s lodge plans’

In 2015 tech entrepreneur Peter purchased the 193ha Damper Bay property he hopes to transform into an extravagant retreat for $13.5M, and late last year architectural plans for the site were unveiled.

Independent commissioners Wendy Baker, Ian Munro and councillor Glyn Lewers are holding the hearing via Zoom.

They revealed a sprawling luxury lodge and private residence which could together sleep up to 30 people, kitted out with pools, libraries, spa facilities, and even a dedicated building for meditation.

Architects Kengo Kuma and Associates, best known for designing for the Tokyo Olympic stadium, have designed the proposed buildings, which they have envisioned tucked into the hillside and covered in living green roofs to blend into the landscape. 

Thiel applied for resource consent for the lodge late last year.

The site presents a number of challenges for Peter (who applied for resource consent for the lodge last year under his business Second Star Ltd): While the sweeping lake and mountain views may make it an ideal luxury retreat, it is subject to onerous Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL) zoning which informed the QLDC planner’s decision to recommend the proposal be refused.

The site, which Thiel purchased for $13M in 2015, has been subject to a failed development attempt in the past.

The property, located off Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road, has been in the spotlight before, when the Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) successfully opposed attempts by former landowners, Damper Bay Ltd, to create a three-lot, six-house development on the site.

A handful of people who opposed the application got the chance to speak to their submissions towards the end of the day yesterday and one of the first people on the docket today is UCES secretary Julian Haworth, who spearheaded the opposition to the previous development attempt. 

Tune in to watch the hearing live from 9am today at the QLDC YouTube channel.

PHOTOS: Supplied