Northlake Investments’ application to develop a three-storey, 113-room hotel in the Northlake subdivision has been approved by independent hearings commissioners Ian Munro and Jane Sinclair.

“We find that on overall balance the proposal is in line with the outcomes sought by the Operative Plan provisions for the NSZ [Northlake Special Zone] and that consent should be granted, subject to conditions,” commissioners said in their decision, made public this afternoon (Tuesday June 25).

The application by Northlake, which had significant opposition from the community, includes a restaurant, bar, gym, and carparking. 

Commissioners said the proposal will have “more than minor” effects for people living on Merivale Avenue and Mount Creighton Crescent (adjacent to the hotel site), but noted the site was originally intended for a business park. “[These streets] were always envisaged as fronting non-residential activities on the subject site the hotel buildings are likely to be more sympathetic...,” commissioners said. 

“The proposal will otherwise have adverse effects that are at most minor and which will be acceptable,” they added. “The proposal will also have a number of positive effects.”

The hotly-debated tennis court, located on land now intended for the hotel, will be relocated by 130 metres. Commissioners said the existing court could not be removed until the new court was built and operational.

This requirement was one of a list of lengthy conditions for the approval for the hotel, which included detailed rules around dust control; stormwater, silt and sediment control; limited earthworks and construction hours for the hotel build; and noise limits for the hotel once in use. Northlake must also attempt to incorporate after hours coach drop off and loading bays in front of the hotel.

Commissioners said “there is no singular or uniform development vision, but rather an ad-hoc or incremental process of ongoing refinement,” in this part of the Northlake Special Zone.

QLDC councillor and Wanaka Community Board chair Quentin Smith, who submitted against the proposal as a member of the public, said he was disappointed with the decision. 

“The option exists for submitters to lodge an appeal, and I suspect many of them will be considering that - as will I,” he said.

No submissions were received in support of the proposal; 141 submissions were opposed and one was neutral. Several more opposing the decision were submitted after the closing date.

Opposition to the proposal was also notable because many Northlake property owners are prohibited from objecting to any of the developer's planning proposals under Northlake's sale and purchase agreements. Wanaka Community Supporting Our Northlake Neighbours Inc was formed as a vehicle to allow submissions to be made on behalf of Northlake residents.

Developer Chris Meehan said he was “delighted” to be granted approval for the hotel. “We are now looking forward to progressing to the next stages of design and planning for the project,” he said.

PHOTO: Supplied