KEY POINTS:
Two Northland councils have pulled the plug on a proposal by a Californian company to develop a 229-guest luxury resort on a 41ha coastal site at secluded Butterfly Bay in the Far North.
The councils say the developer, Cerulean Properties, has not provided information sought under the Resource Management Act and has not withdrawn its consent applications, despite being asked to do so.
As a result, the councils say they cannot process the applications any further and have returned them to the company.
The proposed development by San Francisco company Cerulean Properties and its New Zealand arm, Cerulean Properties NZ, attracted a wall of opposition when it was publicly notified by the Far North District and Northland Regional Councils last year.
More than 600 submissions, most in opposition, were made to the councils.
The planned resort, known as Project BlueSpa, would have been built close to the internationally recognised monarch butterfly sanctuary at Butterfly Bay, south of the entrance to Whangaroa Harbour and next to Tauranga Bay.
Cerulean's plan involved the likely removal of more than 8ha of bush during clearance work for roads, tracks, parking areas and buildings, and construction of a desalination plant.
Butterfly Bay Protection Society chairwoman and neighbouring landowner Sue Gibbison said the "absurd" project had dragged on long enough.
Council and ratepayer time and resources had been wasted by the "California dreamers" involved in the proposal.
REJECTED RESORT
* 74 guest chalets.
* Lodge, bar, restaurant.
* Staff quarters.
* Three swimming pools.
* 18 treatment rooms, saunas, spa and water therapy facilities.
* Gymnasium, yoga and fitness centre.
* Tennis courts.
