Save Bob’s Cove fundraising drive
Opponents of the proposed 24-villa, Waimarino Luxury Lodge on 1.8ha of rural residential land overlooking Bob’s Cove have launched a Givealittle fundraising campaign to help fight the proposal in the Environment Court in April.
The resource consent application was declined by independent commissioners and agreement could not be reached during mediation last year between the council, applicant B Property Group and opponents - about 14 resident submitters who’ve formed Bob’s Cove Punatapu Community Trust.
An appeal will now be heard before the Environment Court starting in late April and trustee Carolin Friese says the group now needs to raise at least $60,000 to engage the various experts necessary to fight the development in court.
An initial fundraising push to enable the group to be represented at mediation in September last year raised some $30,000, however, most of that money has been used, she says.
“We’re now raising the remainder for the Environment Court proceedings. It’s cost us about $35,000 so far and our main costs will be in the next few months,” Friese says.
With the fundraising target currently sitting at $31,465 the group needs to raise another $60,000 to reach its $94,000 target in order to be adequately represented in the Environment Court. The money will be used to pay legal fees, a landscape architect, resource management planner and ecologist. Donations have been trickling in, but the group really needs the momentum to pick up now with the late April court date fast approaching.
The ‘Save Bob’s Cove’ campaign page says the trust was formed to “protect and preserve the outstanding natural landscape and ecological biodiversity of Bob’s Cove-Punatapu by working closely with existing conservation groups, the local council and wider Bob’s Cove community”. It says the charity is made up of ‘long-term local residents with strong community connections.
Friese says she and trust members hope that others will get behind the appeal and share their concerns and objectives. “We have major concerns about a development of this nature and scale proceeding in the Bob’s Cove area,” she says. “We are pretty committed to this.”
Resident Tim Buckley says he’s hoping people will show their support by spreading the word and donating some money to help keep the campaign alive.
Any surplus funds raised will be used for much needed pest control in the area.
Height poles have been placed on the site by the applicant.
The Environment Court hearing is set down for April 29 until May 2 in the Queenstown District Court.
