A businessman who has just been given resource consent to run a dog park facility in Rotorua is calling for a public inquiry into the "illegal" and "disgusting" actions of the Rotorua District Council.
Barkers Park chief executive Rob Kent said Mayor Kevin Winters and chief executive Peter Guerin should be sacked because of his six-month battle with the council over plans for his dog daycare and boarding business.
He said what should have been a simple consent process had cost him more than $35,000 and indefinitely delayed expansion of his business.
Council planning services manager Liam Dagg said he was satisfied with how the council handled the case and said the high costs involved were down to Mr Kent's own decisions. On Friday independent commissioner William Wasley granted Mr Kent consent for a daycare for 60 dogs and boarding kennels for 30 dogs on his 14ha rural property on Fairy Springs Rd.
"I'm generally pleased with the commissioner's decision and we can live with most of the 36 draconian consent conditions that council had insisted upon, but some will have to be appealed in the interests of common sense," Mr Kent said.
The conditions he will appeal to the Environment Court include the council having the indefinite right to conduct six-monthly reviews at Barkers Park's expense.
Mr Dagg said periodic reviews were regular practice and the costs had to lie with applicants rather than ratepayers.
Mr Kent intends to challenge the bill of almost $22,000 he has received from the council - calling their $165-an-hour administration charges extortionate.
In response, Mr Dagg said the large bill was due to Mr Kent choosing to be heard by an independent commissioner rather than council hearings commissioners. The bill was also as a result of Mr Kent's campaign which meant more than 1000 supporting submissions had to be assessed by council staff and the commissioner and his submission of a modified application on the day of the hearing.
"It was made clear to him well in advance what the costs would be," Mr Dagg said.
Mr Kent is also unhappy with the condition that any dog training be done indoors.
"I can just see farm dogs across New Zealand in future having to be taught to round up sheep and cattle around the kitchen table."
He has filed a complaint with the Attorney-General regarding the handling of his case and has requested advice on obtaining a public inquiry. He believed there were many in Rotorua who would welcome an inquiry into the council's workings.
"They have been ruining this town for too long," he said. "It's not surprising businesses are closing their doors daily in Rotorua. We don't need $1.9 million wasted on [council controlled organisations] to get Rotorua up and running, we just need to fire the council CEO and get a new mayor."
He said he had been approached by other centres keen for him to set up in their town.
"If Rotorua doesn't want it there's plenty of towns that do."
Mr Winters and Mr Guerin did not offer any comment in relation to Mr Kent's call for them to be sacked.