Twenty-four out of 26 submissions have opposed an application to build houses on over half a hectare of land on the western lower slopes of Mt Iron.

Submissions closed on Friday (October 8) on the application for a six lot subdivision made by Allenby Farms, which owns the 6974m2 lot below the popular walking track on Mt Iron.

The land is currently zoned low density (suburban) residential, which allows the development, but the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) plans to rezone most of this area to rural, aligning it with an Environment Court decision late last year regarding Mt Iron as an Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF). 

Many of the submissions opposing the application, including one from 15 residents of Rob Roy Lane, cite the ONF designation, as well as the impact on views of the landmark.

“The Resource Management Act identifies the protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development as matters of national importance,” residents’ spokesperson Tony Marsh said.

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He said the proposed development would involve earthworks and removal of vegetation up to 30 metres above the existing houses on the side of Mt Iron, with negative effects on the view of Mt Iron and on the natural environment.

A majority of submissions oppose further development on the western slopes of Mt Iron. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Submitter Chris White said “nibbling away at the edges” of the ONF protection is not acceptable and should not be allowed.

The Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) also opposed the application, saying: “The visual effects, amenity effects, effects on natural landscape values and cumulative effects of the development proposed, in the highly sensitive location it is proposed to be located within” will be significant and adverse.

Only two submissions supported the application. Ian Weir submitted that the effects of the proposal would be minimal, and given the location and zoning of the site “a prudent person should anticipate this use as a likely future outcome”. 

Ian also referred to the Allenby Farms owners, the Cleugh family, as long-standing and reliable members of the Wanaka business community with a track record of high standards for development. 

Stephen Norman submitted that overriding the residential zoning with the ONF zoning “many years later is both unjust and heavy handed”.

Last month a QLDC planning and strategy committee agreed the parcel of land owned by Allenby Farms should be rezoned as rural land as a variation to the proposed district plan. It also recommended Wanaka’s Urban Growth Boundary should be amended to match the Mt Iron ONF line.

The variation would accurately identify land that is part of the ONF as Rural Zone, to achieve better alignment between the ONF, Significant Natural Areas (SNA) and zoning at Mt Iron ONF, the council report said. 

Timing for undertaking the variation has not yet been confirmed.

“Before this matter can go to council for endorsement the relevant RMA documentation needs to be completed. This process is currently being worked on by council officers,” QLDC media and channels advisor Jack Barlow told the Wanaka App.

“At this stage we are anticipating the matter will go before council at December’s council meeting.”