Developer to pay application costs

Oyster Bay Developments must pay The Marlborough District Council $20,000 for costs after a failed attempt to open up part of Port Underwood to lifestyle block development.

The council turned down the company's application to subdivide grazing land two years ago.

A year before that, the company had applied to rezone 26 hectares of land at Oyster Bay from rural 1 to Sounds residential.

It appealed the council's decision to the Environment Court, but that was rejected in September.

Council strategic planner Pere Hawes told the environmental policy committee negotiations between the council and the company had ended and the company would pay costs.

- The Marlborough Express