A council planner has recommended US billionaire’s Peter Thiel’s proposal for a sprawling luxury lodge at his Damper Bay property be rejected.

The recommendation, made public today (Tuesday May 3), comes shortly before a resource consent hearing for the proposal which will take place later in May.

Building plans for the 193ha site located off the Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road show three proposed buildings, described as ‘pods’ - with an owner’s pod, a lodge pod and a meditation pod - which would feature facilities including spas, libraries, pools and a theatre lounge.

The buildings, designed by Tokyo Olympic stadium architects Kengo Kuma & Associates for Peter’s company Second Star Ltd, would together sleep 30 people.

While acknowledging the buildings were “elegant in nature”, planner Sarah Gathercole said the proposal was inappropriate for the site.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planner Sarah Gathercole was not swayed by details like plant covered roofs, plans to nestle the pods into the hillside, or riparian planting and wetland restoration.

“I acknowledge that the proposed buildings have been well designed and are elegant in nature, however given that they are visible from a number of key public viewpoints… I consider the proposed development is inappropriate in this location, particularly given that it is within an [Outstanding Natural Landscape],” she said.

As noted by others who submitted on the proposal, Sarah said the buildings would be visible from the Glendhu Bay track, the lake and surrounds, and Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road.

US billionaire Peter Thiel purchased the 193ha site in 2015 and plans for its development were first made public late last year.

Sarah said the “large scale” development did not have a link to farming activities on the site and they were not appropriate on the rural-zoned land.

In addition, the positive effects of the proposal do not go far enough, Sarah said

The proposed buildings are not appropriate for the ‘Outstanding Natural Landscape’ designated Damper Bay site, which is also zoned rural, Sarah said.

“...I do not consider they will be significant, and may be limited to on-site positive effects, benefitting the applicant and visitors to the site rather than being positive effects for the wider community.”

Peter, a successful tech entrepreneur, purchased the Wānaka property in 2015 for $13.5M and architectural plans for the site were first made public late last year.

The fate of the proposal will be decided following a hearing in late May.

A final decision on the proposal will be made by independent commissioners following a hearing on May 23 and 24.

 PHOTOS: Supplied