Final plans for the redevelopment of the Lantana Resort have received criticism from the Department of Conservation Services (DCS).

According to the plans available at the Planning Department, a croquet lawn is intended to be built on what is now an agricultural reserve; and several buildings would breach coastal reserve areas.

The plans, submitted for approval earlier this month, include 13 hotel residences and 28 hotel condominiums. A beach club, club house and two swimming pools are also proposed.

The plans also include enhancements to use an existing breakwater a dock jetty, allowing a ferry to potentially pick up and drop off guests.

Developer Kevin Petty of Moongate Resorts Ltd. was behind the Warwick properties and is expected to develop and manage the Lantana cottage colony.

Lantana closed its doors as a resort in 1998.

The redevelopment plans were designed to protect the adjacent Railway Trail, however the DCS noted that construction was planned in reserve areas.

A section of the Planning documentation reads: "Although the vegetation that had grown up since the closure of the prior resort use had been cleared up prior to this application, DCS recommended that development of the coastal area be avoided.

"Use of the area zoned agricultural reserve in a way that disturbed or removed viable soil, such as proposed or otherwise, did not meet the objectives of the conservation zone and was also discouraged."

In the document, it was said that developers argued that the coastal area did not fit the description of a coastal reserve, and the agricultural reserve was "no longer compatible with the tourism base zoning and the site's redevelopment".