Central Otago orchard camping area gains approval

Cromwell.

A 70-person camping area at a Central Otago orchard has been approved by the Central Otago District Council hearings panel.

Kevin Jackson Holdings Ltd had applied for land use consent for travellers' and workers' accommodation on an orchard on the western side of State Highway 6, between Burn Cottage Rd and Shortcut Rd, near Cromwell, and his application was heard by the hearings panel on November 20.

The panel's decision, released last week, said any adverse effects from the proposal could be mitigated, and land use consent had been granted.

The site already has six "chalets", which are used as staff accommodation in the orchard season and can be used as travellers' accommodation in the off-season. The chalets provide accommodation for 24 people.

The applicant will now add a camping area for tents and camper vans, and a catering and ablutions block. The new site will have eight powered sites and 12 tent sites and will accommodate a maximum of 70 people.

The camping ground and chalets would be used 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the application from Kevin Jackson Holdings said.

The land use consent includes a condition that the camping site can only be used as travellers' accommodation from March 1 to November 30 each year.

At all other times, the camping site will be for the sole use of seasonal workers working at the Jackson orchard or packhouse.

The application said although an area of existing fruit trees would be removed for the camping area, the accommodation facility would remain "extensively surrounded by orchard" and "not be generally visible" from outside the site.

pam.jones@odt.co.nz