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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A Methven resident says his privacy and views will be ruined if a resort's expansion plans go ahead.
Mark Brownlie lives by Methven Resort and is one of the neighbours objecting to the consent application for the hotel's expansion.
… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A Methven resident says his privacy and views will be ruined if a resort's expansion plans go ahead.
Mark Brownlie lives by Methven Resort and is one of the neighbours objecting to the consent application for the hotel's expansion.
Independent commissioner Darryl Millar is deciding on the consent application, with a public hearing held in Methven on Thursday.
During the meeting, Brownlie described the proposed expansion plans as a “brutal privacy intrusion”.
The development plans would deny him “privacy, outlook and daylight”, with the effects “much more than minor”, he said.
Brownlie said he didn't oppose the resort owners developing of the site, but was against the positioning and height of the proposed new accommodation wing.
His view of the mountains – one of the main reasons he bought land and built there - would be ruined by the proposed development, he said.
The resort wants to build two new accommodation wings, one on the north boundary and one on the west.
The application was lodged by The Methven Limited, which is controlled by Ultimate Hospitality Limited. The company is a subsidiary of The Ultimate Global Group, which is run by entrepreneur Levin Da Costa.
The commissioner will determine if the plans are as intrusive as the neighbours say or if the applicant and its panel of experts are correct in their description of the affects as being “less than minor”.
The commissioner is being asked to consider whether the original resource consent granted in 1982 is still applicable.
Legal advice provided to the council in 2007, the last time an expansion of the site was considered, was that the original consent could no longer be implemented without further consent.
The applicant’s solicitor, Gerard Cleary, argued the consent remained valid and that it “does not include a condition requiring development be in accordance with specific plans”.
The 1982 consent granted permission for four three-story wings extending from the central hotel area, but only one wing was originally built to the south.
The commissioner must also weigh up whether the plans are non-compliant with the district plan, as the site is residential zone C.
A series of conditions have been proposed by the applicant to mitigate the effects of the expansion.
There was also discussion of the potential height reduction of the west wing from three storeys (10.4m height) down to two storeys (7.3m).
If the configuration could be changed, Brownlie suggested the entire expansion could be one block along the northern side, which wouldn’t impact any neighbours.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioner said he would issue a minute asking the council to seek legal submissions, with the applicant then able to have a right of reply.
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Join us at our Open Days to find out more about independent living, assisted living in a serviced apartment, or our industry leading care.
This is your opportunity to view the quality of a Ryman village, tour our showhomes, the wonderful amenities, and see for … View moreStart your journey with Ryman.
Join us at our Open Days to find out more about independent living, assisted living in a serviced apartment, or our industry leading care.
This is your opportunity to view the quality of a Ryman village, tour our showhomes, the wonderful amenities, and see for yourself how living in a Ryman village will enhance your lifestyle.
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National MP Shane Reti shared pre-election that he's wanting to review the Health Star Rating used on NZ grocery products. This rating is voluntary and uses a scale of 0.5 to five stars to rank packaged food on its nutrient profile. Have these ratings had an affect on what you've been … View moreNational MP Shane Reti shared pre-election that he's wanting to review the Health Star Rating used on NZ grocery products. This rating is voluntary and uses a scale of 0.5 to five stars to rank packaged food on its nutrient profile. Have these ratings had an affect on what you've been buying?
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
One of the biggest hotels in the tourist town of Methven wants to expand, but neighbours are opposing the move.
Methven Resort in Canterbury wants to build two new wings on the site, along the west and north boundaries.
However, concerns have … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
One of the biggest hotels in the tourist town of Methven wants to expand, but neighbours are opposing the move.
Methven Resort in Canterbury wants to build two new wings on the site, along the west and north boundaries.
However, concerns have been raised the expansion will block sun and impact privacy for neighbouring residents.
The resort, which opened in 1982, currently features 47 guest rooms, a bar, restaurant, swimming pool, hot pools, and function rooms.
Ashburton District Council processed the resource consent for the expansion under limited notification.
Three submissions opposed consent and an independent commissioner will decide on the application. A public hearing to hear submissions would be held at the Mount Hutt Memorial Hall on Thursday (October 26).
Issues raised include the building's height impacting on the privacy of the neighbours and not meeting zoning rules, according to the executive summary of the planning hearing report.
The hotel sits in the Residential C zone, which is described as medium-to-low density housing with permanent residents.
The two proposed accommodation blocks exceed the 8m height limit for the zone.
It also does not comply to zoning as more than five guests would stay per night and it exceeds operating hours.
The council’s assessment of the application “raised issues of concern regarding the impact of the western accommodation block on the privacy and outlook enjoyed by the submitter's properties”.
“As such the effects are considered to be more than minor on those properties.”
Before granting consent, the council must be satisfied that either the adverse effects of the activity on the environment will be minor, or the proposed activity will not be contrary to the objectives and policies of a proposed plan.
The executive summary outlined that the “district plan makes clear statements that commercial development should be guided to the business zones" and the character of residential areas should be protected.
The summary said if the proposed western accommodation block was reduced to two storeys, then it could be approved.
The resort's owners did not respond to a request for comment.
The resort has been a subsidiary of the Ultimate Global Group since May 2021, which is a New Zealand-based conglomerate that has a hospitality footprint across the country and Asia.
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Methven Resort’s long line of owners
The hotel opened as Centrepoint in 1982, with numerous ownership changes over the decades - and even a blaze damaging the hotel’s interior in the 1990s.
Originally a family-owned business, it has since been under hotel chains such as Grand Chancellor, Sovereign, and Dynasty Group.
Under the Dynasty Group, it was sold in a mortgagee sale in 2008 after the company failed to pay a long list of creditors.
The hotel was steered back to stability by former French Farm Winery owners Mark Smith and Ann Tillson, who operated it for five years before being sold again.
The landmark hotel struggled when Covid-19 shut the borders to international tourists. It was closed down in June 2020 after the lessees, Gretha Group Limited, went into liquidation.
The family of the building owners, Maxim Fashions, reopened the venue in October 2020.
The venue has again changed hands with the Ultimate Global Group running the hotel since May 2021.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The way Ashburton's council is elected is up for review, but the mayor says it doesn't necessarily mean anything will change.
Māori representation, wards, and the number of councillors will be considered.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The way Ashburton's council is elected is up for review, but the mayor says it doesn't necessarily mean anything will change.
Māori representation, wards, and the number of councillors will be considered.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said the review would discuss possible changes and decide if they are necessary.
“We don’t have to change for change's sake.
“If we think we have it right, then we have it right. When we did this six years ago we did change."
Any proposed changes will go out for public consultation.
The review will cover the number of councillors and if they are elected in wards (electoral areas) or at large (whole city), options for district-wide voting as well as wards, of a single rural and single urban ward or southern and northern rural ward.
The review will also consider Māori representation options.
Strategy and policy manager Mark Low said the district doesn’t meet the threshold for a Māori ward under current legislation.
“Part of this conversation is around potential other ways of representation," he said.
Democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham said the legislation had been due for change ahead of the 2025 elections, including removing the formulaic approach to Māori wards.
However, Cyclone Gabrielle put that on hold.
The Methven Community Board boundary will also be considered, with the board proposing it change in response to the urban growth of the township.
In the last review in 2018, the council reduced from 12 to nine councillors, and there were some adjustments to the ward boundaries.
Councillor Richard Wilson said the review outlined all the different options for the council, including keeping the status quo.
“What we currently do could be fit for purpose so we don’t have to change.”
The pre-engagement for the review will take place before the end of this year.
That will allow the council to form an initial proposal to be notified by the end of May for consultation with the community.
The process and timeframe for the final proposal will depend on submissions received, a council spokesperson said.
The process needed to be completed by the end of August.
Ryman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.
This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.
The awards, run by … View moreRyman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.
This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.
The awards, run by agedadvisor.co.nz are based on almost 11,300 reviews and ratings for more than 890 facilities. Over 1600 of those in-depth reviews went towards this year’s awards.
Ryman took home the top prize in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. As a finalist this year Aged Advisor voters recognise Ryman’s continued growth and efforts within the aged care sector.
Click to read more.
Dear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. … View moreDear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by October 29, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the December issue of NZ Gardener.
We’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.
This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, … View moreWe’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.
This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, successfully locating him in the gap between the ceiling and roof of their neighbour’s house.
Pam said “They rescued him and brought him home to me... complete with some scratches! I hate to think what would have happened had he not been found”.
Pam nominated the Hursts to let them know she is thankful for them: “It’s so good to know I have such caring neighbours who have my back. Thank you neighbours!”
Nominate someone in your hood, and your special neighbour could feature on Stuff and Neighbourly as an inspiration to us all (plus there are prizes to be won!).
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Hello Neighbours, are you ready for a relaxing Labor Day long weekend?
If you're looking for some leisurely activities, we've got just the thing – a selection of fantastic shows to enjoy from the comfort of your home!
PLUS, we've got the scoop on broadband providers … View moreHello Neighbours, are you ready for a relaxing Labor Day long weekend?
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