Owners of the controversial Shortcut Rd units that were listed on accommodation websites this year, will have to wait until early 2024 for their resource consent decision. 

Owners Jun Hou and Lihua Zhang were issued an abatement notice by the Central Otago District Council, for operating traveller’s accommodation without the appropriate consents.

They have since applied for consent and following a hearing in early December, commissioner Louise Taylor this week asked the council’s planning consultant to provide more evidence regarding Cromwell’s rental shortage.

Despite operating an unconsented business, the applicants told the hearing that they intended to use the units for both short and long-term accommodation, to help the housing shortage.

Eventually, when the complex was completed, it would be used again for traveller’s accommodation.

The applicants' son Jackie Hou would be the resident manager onsite to manage the accommodation, and there were currently nine units built in stage one, with two further stages totalling 22 units consented.

The business had been listed on accommodation websites in mid-2023 and neighbours started complaining about the noise and anti-social behaviour from guests.

On December 18 Judge Taylor issued a statement to the council regarding consultant planner Oli Monthule-McIntosh’s comments regarding the effects of the proposed activity on limited housing stock in the town, and difficulties for workers securing accommodation.

“Mr Monthule-McIntosh relies (in part) on the shortage of residential accommodation in Cromwell and the adverse effect of removing residential units from the housing supply to support his opinion that the adverse effects of the proposal would be more than minor.”  

She requested that Mr Monthule-McIntosh provide evidence to support those references made in his report, in particular the low supply of rental housing in Cromwell.

He has until January 15 to provide the information, and the applicants would be then also given the opportunity to comment.