Objections ludicrous: owner | Oamaru News | Local News in Oamaru

Kakanui Camping Ground owner Allan Jones says submissions against his resource consent application are "ludicrous" because they have been submitted by people who no longer, or hardly, live in the area.

Mr Jones, through his company Equipment and Support Ltd, has a resource consent application before the council to continue and intensify the operation of visitor accommodation on his 1.23ha property in Kakanui. His consent attempts have been a protracted decade-long battle.

The current issue surrounds roading access to the grounds, but Mr Jones said he was confident the ongoing saga would come to an end at a hearing set for February 7.

Mr Jones claimed there was no land or environment issue with his property because, at the Environment Court hearing in October, Judge Gordon Whiting said the application would have been granted if there was no roading issue.

His application before the council involves constructing a manager's house to provide on-site supervision and security, building two cabins, providing 20 powered sites for motor homes and caravans, converting an existing building into an ablution block, erecting a sign at the entrance on Waianakarua Rd and providing landscaping.

The council called for public submissions after advertising Mr Jones' application.

Submissions closed last month, and Mr Jones claimed the three submissions that were against his application had come from people who either no longer, or hardly, lived in the region.

"One is from Christchurch, who no longer owns the neighbouring property," he said.

"Another who has an issue with it is an American whose visa only allows him to stay in the country for 90 days a year ... He just doesn't want Kiwis having a holiday when he is, it's ludicrous," he said.

Mr Jones' proposed development would take place in two stages. Stage one would be limited to 20 powered and unpowered sites, and subject to monitoring vehicle movements on to and from Waianakarua Rd.

More than 80 movements a day would result in the closure of the site to any additional campers.

Stage two would allow the full capacity of up to 30 sites, but only when access to River Rd was available following the upgrade of the Harbour Tce and Waianakarua Rd intersection to the District Planner's satisfaction.

Mr Jones said the camping ground provided useful holiday accommodation for people, especially those passing through the district.

He said he was confident he had the backing of the Kakanui community to intensify his operation which, at full capacity of 20 sites, would prevent coastline-damaging freedom camping.

"The community have seen first-hand the mess that freedom campers make," he said.

At the October hearing, Judge Whiting issued an interim decision  allowing Mr Jones to operate only five camping sites on his property until the 2012 hearing.

Working with just five sites had been extremely difficult and prospective guests were turned away daily, he said.