Hearing for controversial hotel expected

The site of a proposed hotel on Bennetts Rd. PHOTO/FILE

A decision on whether a controversial hotel development in Koutu will go ahead could be made by the end of next month.

Rotorua Lakes Council has received all the information it needs on the development and is now working on setting a date for the hearing.

The 100-room four-star hotel planned for Bennetts Rd has attracted controversy with more than 120 submissions received in opposition to the development.

Council consent solutions manager Jason Ward said there were 124 submissions received by the council with 33 submitters wanting to speak at the hearing.

Mr Ward said the hearing was expected to be late September or early October.

"If a decision is able to be reached on the date of the hearing, we would expect the decision to be released before the end of October."

Plans were unveiled a year ago for the new multi-million-dollar hotel which developers said would bring about 30 jobs and attract tourists.

The proposed hotel, on currently empty land, would include a swimming pool, restaurant and tennis courts.

However Koutu residents feared the hotel set a precedent around commercial buildings in residential neighbourhoods.

They were concerned about the increase in traffic and visitors along with the noise and other impacts it would have.