Auckland Council will not fast-track resource consent for the Chow brothers' proposed mixed-use brothel to the Environment Court.

The council’s hearings committee today reconfirmed an earlier decision for the application to be heard before a panel of four independent commissioners.

Committee chairwoman councillor Noelene Raffills said the request, made by the brothers' lawyer, should be declined because there is no certainty  the application would end up in the Environment Court and a direct referral would lead to “a less participatory process” for a large number of lay submitters.

Following public notification of the resource consent application, the council received more 200 submissions, all but one opposed, with 59 people wanting to be heard.

The Chow brothers' proposal is for a 15-storey mixed-use building opposite the Sky City casino, with office and retail space included alongside a brothel.