The latest application for a subdivision at New Chum Beach (Wainuiototo Bay) has now been withdrawn.

Made by Ross and Deidre Mear, the application was for a four-lot subdivision, all 15 hectares in size along with a 15m wide esplanade strip allowing for public access along the beach.

Preserve New Chum for Everyone's Linda Cholmondeley-Smith and Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty at New Chum Beach. Photo courtesy of Anna Horne.

The Mears own a 50 per cent share in the property with another separate family trust owning the other half.

In a letter received by the Thames-Coromandel District Council this week, lawyer for the applicants Ian Cowper said it was 'with regret” that the applicants are obliged to withdraw the application.

'On behalf of the applicants we apologise for the inconvenience caused to the Council, its commissioners and submitters.”

The application received high public interest across New Zealand and internationally with a total of 187 submissions received and over 80 submitters requesting to be heard.

Hearings were set down for May 4 but the council was notified by the applicant's lawyers of a last-minute disagreement from one of the co-owners of the site.

The disagreement related to access arrangements to the beach and requested that the application be suspended.

At that May 4 meeting the Independent Commissioners decided to suspend the hearings and give the applicants up to two months to resolve the situation.

Coromandel-based Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty says the withdrawal of the application is a victory for the local community who have spent years fighting the proposal.

'This is a victory for a strong, organised community and should be an inspiration to other communities who are fighting to protect their natural heritage,” says Catherine. 'This is also a victory for our natural environment.

'Congratulations to the local group ‘Preserve New Chum for Everyone' for their sustained leadership on the issue. Their tireless work alongside the Green Party ensured that the consent application was publicly notified and people could have a say.

'New Zealanders have won the right to keep enjoying our country's unspoilt beauty."

It is her hope that the withdrawal of the development application shows that landowners understand the 'extraordinary value” the community places on New Chum/Wainuiototo.

Catherine says te unspoiled beauty of the beach has been internationally recognised by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and the UK's Observer newspaper.

'The would-be developers have made the right choice by withdrawing their development consent application.”

New Chum Beach/Wainuiatoto. Photo: Marc Hall

This application made by Ross and Deidre Mear was for the exact same piece of land on which a previous application was lodged in January 2014 by Coastal Land Trust Holdings.

The application by Coastal Land Trust Holdings - which is a separate identity - is currently on hold due to further information being sought from the applicant.

Coastal Land Trust Holdings' application is for New Chum (Te Pungapunga Station) and includes more farmland. This application can be viewed here

Coastal Land Trust holdings is aware of the New Chum/Wainuiototo Bay application.