A case of Covid will delay a decision whether United States entrepreneur Peter Thiel can build aluxury lodge on the outskirts of Wanaka.
The resource consent decision was expected this week but the independent hearing commissioners Wendy Baker and Glyn Llewers have granted an extension of 15 working days so the commission chairman Ian Munro and his household can recover from Covid.
The hearing was closed on July 7, after hearing evidence presented by the applicant, Second Star Ltd, a company associated with Mr Thiel, and by opposers John May and the Upper Clutha Environmental Society spokesman Julian Haworth.
The statutory time frame to release a decision is 15 working days.
The Resource Management Act provides for extensions if the commissioners are satisfied one is warranted.
A memorandum lodged by Mr Munro on behalf of the commission with the Queenstown Lakes District Council on Monday said Mr Munro’s family caught Covid-19 in the week of July 18.
The disease spread through his household and his ability to complete his duties had resulted in an ‘‘unavoidable delay that the other commissioners have not been able to reasonably compensate on such short notice’’.
‘‘A modest extension to make up this time will not unreasonably impact any person affected by the waiver of limits; will allow the commissioners to properly and adequately assess the effects of the proposal; and will not result in an unreasonable delay,’’ the memorandum said.
The Resource Management Act provides for extensions if the commissioners are satisfied one is warranted.
