Landowner forced to court over land damage alongside Lake Wanaka

Hanging fences, damage to landscape character and boundary encroachment are the result of badly planned and executed non-notified work carried out on a walkway alongside Lake Wanaka. Land owner Damper Bay Estates Ltd is to seek redress through an application to the High Court.

The walkway is part of the Te Aroha/Millennium trail and is adjacent to Damper Bay Estates land. Landowner spokesman Mark Taylor lays the blame for the mess firmly at the door of the Otago Regional Council (ORC).

“The trail has been established by several parties but it’s the part created by ORC that we are very concerned about and have been unable to resolve. Big diggers have come through and just ripped their way through the landscape. Our land has been damaged, we have fences that are hanging over banks and associated erosion issues. We are left with absolutely no choice but to take the matter to court because we haven’t been able to resolve the issue with the ORC.”

Mr Taylor said the court action would have to be leveled at Queenstown Lakes District Council as the consenting authority.

“Our main argument isn’t actually with the QLDC, but we have no option but to pursue resolution this way because the ORC is applying for retrospective consent through the local Council.”

Mr Taylor said the quality of the work and the fact that the trail is not in keeping with the landscape character was entirely unacceptable.