Council fees upset land developers; SDC refused to trim $42k bill
19 November 2005
By MANDY GILLIES
Developers of a proposed housing subdivision at Curio Bay have been stung to the tune of more than $42,000 by the Southland District Council, which refuses to reduce resource consent processing costs.
Porpoise Bay Ltd had applied for consent for a 38-lot subdivision, including 33 houses, on a 5.21ha area on the coast between existing housing to the north and the Curio Bay camping ground to the south.
It is understood the subdivision has been amended to 16 residential allotments.
An independent commissioner declined the subdivision in April.
That decision was appealed in the Environment Court and is still in mediation.
The council invoiced the company for processing costs of $42,440.99 in September, which the company has formally objected to.
The objection, via lawyer Rex Chapman, said the council had insufficient regard to the public benefit of the process as opposed to the private benefit accrued to the applicant.
Porpoise Bay Ltd had also volunteered, as part of the mediation process, to vest a large part of the site to the council at no cost, which the company felt should also be considered.
AdvertisementAdvertisementPorpoise Bay Ltd director Wayne Foley said he was amazed at the committee's decision.
"The committee expressed the view that the 51 percent of the land that we were giving back to the council had no community benefit.
"Personally I am surprised about how the council has felt about it but it's their perspective."
Mr Foley said the area to be vested in the council was 2.7ha with a value of about $750,000.
The company had 15 days to appeal the decision in the Environment Court, otherwise it would have to pay the full consent processing costs.
Mr Foley said a decision had not yet been made on whether to appeal.
Resource management committee chairman John Frew said the committee did not accept the arguments put forward by the company, at the meeting on November 11.
The land vested in the council would become a reserve and incur ongoing maintenance costs that went back to the ratepayer, he said.
wAn objection by TC Enterprise Ltd, developers of a Te Wae Wae Bay subdivision, against consent processing costs of $19,288.35, has been deferred until the council's December meeting.
19 November 2005
By MANDY GILLIES
Developers of a proposed housing subdivision at Curio Bay have been stung to the tune of more than $42,000 by the Southland District Council, which refuses to reduce resource consent processing costs.
Porpoise Bay Ltd had applied for consent for a 38-lot subdivision, including 33 houses, on a 5.21ha area on the coast between existing housing to the north and the Curio Bay camping ground to the south.
It is understood the subdivision has been amended to 16 residential allotments.
An independent commissioner declined the subdivision in April.
That decision was appealed in the Environment Court and is still in mediation.
The council invoiced the company for processing costs of $42,440.99 in September, which the company has formally objected to.
The objection, via lawyer Rex Chapman, said the council had insufficient regard to the public benefit of the process as opposed to the private benefit accrued to the applicant.
Porpoise Bay Ltd had also volunteered, as part of the mediation process, to vest a large part of the site to the council at no cost, which the company felt should also be considered.
AdvertisementAdvertisementPorpoise Bay Ltd director Wayne Foley said he was amazed at the committee's decision.
"The committee expressed the view that the 51 percent of the land that we were giving back to the council had no community benefit.
"Personally I am surprised about how the council has felt about it but it's their perspective."
Mr Foley said the area to be vested in the council was 2.7ha with a value of about $750,000.
The company had 15 days to appeal the decision in the Environment Court, otherwise it would have to pay the full consent processing costs.
Mr Foley said a decision had not yet been made on whether to appeal.
Resource management committee chairman John Frew said the committee did not accept the arguments put forward by the company, at the meeting on November 11.
The land vested in the council would become a reserve and incur ongoing maintenance costs that went back to the ratepayer, he said.
wAn objection by TC Enterprise Ltd, developers of a Te Wae Wae Bay subdivision, against consent processing costs of $19,288.35, has been deferred until the council's December meeting.