Community opposition to Northlake’s proposal to build a hotel in the subdivision has heated up as neighbours of Northlake have formed an incorporated society to object to the proposal, and local councillor Quentin Smith has lodged a personal submission opposing the proposal.

Northlake Investments has applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for a resource consent to build a 113-room hotel with a restaurant, a bar and gym facilities.

Many Northlake property owners are prohibited from objecting to any of the developer's planning proposals under Northlake's sale and purchase agreements.

The newly formed Wanaka Community Supporting Our Northlake Neighbours Inc is made up of an obligatory 15 named members, most of whom reside in the Hidden Hills subdivision which looks out on Northlake. There are more anonymous members - anonymity being a condition of membership.

The society was described carefully to the Wanaka App by a member as “a vehicle allowing a submission to be made on behalf of its members, who may choose to remain anonymous” - presumably a reference to Northlake residents who are members of the group.

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The society submitted against the resource consent application, citing concerns with acoustics, effects on residential amenity, safety concerns, construction concerns, and conflict with Northlake Special Zone policies and the council’s district plan.

The submission, which claimed Northlake residents had been “grossly misled by the Winton Group and the real estate agents”, asks council to require that any development on that site “aligns with the original vision for small scale commercial activity that services the needs of the neighbourhood, in keeping with the village character”.

Yesterday afternoon Quentin Smith, who is also Wanaka Community Board chair and a qualified resource management planner and commissioner, lodged a personal submission opposing the resource consent application. He made the submission as “a resident and layperson”, not in his elected capacity.

Quentin’s submission contends the council should decline to grant consent whether or not the hotel is deemed a complying activity or a restricted discretionary activity.

He says Northlake’s Special Zone rules require integrated planning, and the application “fundamentally undermines the Zone and the character of the Northlake Community”, being well outside the scope of what was anticipated by the zone, the approved District Plan, and the residents.

Approval of the consent would “undermine the Operative QLDC District Plan and the communities’ confidence in its administration”, he said.

“I call on the decision makers to uphold the integrity of the Northlake Zone and QLDC District Plan and to fulfil their obligations under the RMA and to protect the residents of Northlake, the future residents and the wider Wanaka Community particularly those that are silenced,” his submission states.

Quentin also requested to be heard in support of his submission.

Submissions on the hotel resource consent closed yesterday (Thursday March 21). A QLDC spokesperson said it didn’t know how many submissions had been received but said staff are “working through them as fast as they can”.

PHOTO: Wanaka App