The Bendigo-Tarras area is becoming increasingly popular with horticulture developments, and a new application has been lodged with the Central Otago District Council.

This month the hearings panel will consider an application from NZ Properties Ltd for an 86ha subdivision on Ardgour Road - developed into eight separate blocks for smaller-scale horticulture/viticulture use.

The application stated residential buildings were not anticipated in the development, but would still be somewhat enabled through the subdivision, as a single residential unit or accommodation for workers could be established through the approval of restricted discretionary consents.

A productivity report from horticultural consultant Earnscy Weaver showed seven lots were suitable for viticulture and horticulture use and a range of fruit - from raspberries, cherries, grapes, stone and pip fruit - could be successfully grown there -.

But cherries grown on a corporate scale in Central Otago had become difficult in recent economic times, “with a limited number of survivors,’’ Earnscy said.

Council planning consultant Tim Anderson recommended the consent be approved and noted from the Weaver report the land was suitable for a range of potential uses.

“The conversion to intensive horticultural and viticultural uses, could provide a level of productivity considerably higher than the existing pastoral use of the land…”

Earnscy recommended there was more of a market for smaller operations and as result identified cherry growing as being viable on 2ha blocks.   

The proposal for the subdivision was for a range of 8ha to 24ha lots, but only a smaller portion of each block was actual plantable area, he said.

Tim said while he accepted his comments, they only reflected the economic climate in the short-term and suggested market conditions in the future could be more favourable to larger scale horticulture production.

The hearing takes place on December 10 and will be heard by councillors Neil Gillespie, Martin McPherson and Ian Cooney.

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