Record costs award against ratepayers

By Chris Hutching

Friday 20th December 2002

Canterbury ratepayers will foot a record $600,000 bill for legal costs incurred by Environment Canterbury in opposing listed Southern Capital's zoning applications to create Pegasus Bay township, north of Christchurch near Woodend.

Environment Court judge John Treadwell's order for costs will cover about half of what Southern Capital has spent to obtain planning approval over the past five years but the judge has left an opportunity for the company to make further applications for witnesses costs.

Southern Capital investment director said yesterday it was a hollow victory given the holding costs the company faced. But an Environment Canterbury senior planner said the ruling on costs was inconsistent when one or two judges were prepared to approve costs while others held the view that costs should not impede planning processes.

In the same week, Environment Court judge Jon Jackson has upheld Environment Canterbury's objections to several proposed residential subdivisions on the outskirts of Christchurch. One of the two successful proposals was Noble Park, an Apple Fields development that may proceed if a comprehensive plan is approved by the court some time in the future.

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