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SI Law Firm Picks Up Big Otago Developments

Published: Tue 20 May 2008 01:41 PM
South Island Law Firm Picks Up Big Otago Developments
www.LawFuel.co.nz - The Law Jobs and News Wire
Despite a softening in the economy, recent approvals for developments totalling around $150 million in Central Otago show a strong underlying confidence by developers in the region, Anderson Lloyd Resource Management Partner, Vanessa Walker says.
In the last month the Environment Court has given the greenlight to 3 significant developments, Anderson Lloyd has been representing. The most recent involves resource consent approval for a $16.6 million gondola development in the Cardrona Valley.
The Decision, announced this week, followed a request by the Commissioner's in January for additional information regarding the economic justifications for the Gondola.
The 3.8km-long gondola will ascend 975 vertical meters (3,200 feet) from the Cardrona Valley floor to the Snow Farm and Snow Park ski facilities on the Pisa Range. It will transport up to 1,000 people per hour in gondola cars each holding eight passengers.
The Gondola is intended to facilitate an additional $4.8 million in expenditure within the local community once constructed.
"This is a significant project in a sensitive environment. It required a thorough assessment, which included the presentation of a wide range of technical evidence to assess the effects of the proposal in terms of landscape and amenity values, economic and recreational benefits, traffic, road safety and CO2 reduction as well as a host of other issues" she said.
Earlier in the month consent was given for the Parkins Bay Preserve Ltd $70 million proposed 18 hole Championship Golf Course, 42 visitor and residential accommodation residences, restaurant, bar and jetty with walkways and cycle ways on the 180 ha site west of Glendu Bay, Wanaka.
"The Parkins Bay Golf Course, which was designed by Sir Bob Charles in conjunction with landscape architect John Darby (Darby Partners), will play a major role in satisfying the demand to provide a cluster of quality golf courses in the Queenstown Lakes District. It also provided an opportunity for Glendhu Station owners Bob and Pam McRae to share their iconic property with the wider community," she said.
"The proposal is the most comprehensively designed and planned project within an outstanding natural landscape ever to come before the Queenstown Lakes District Council. We worked closely with Parkins Bay Preserve Limited throughout the project and are delighted with the outcome of what was certainly a rigorous assessment process," she said.
The construction of the golf course is likely to start in December.
Meanwhile after an initial knock back last August, developers of the proposed of the $60 million Pounamu Hilton Hotel have been given approval to proceed with construction albeit with some concessions on the height of the building and reduction of rooms following local residents oppostion. The hotel will provide for 106 visitor rooms and application is underway for the construction of a further 40.
Following mediation late last year and a a completely revised plan providing for the reduction of the building height in areas causing the most concern, approval was given to go ahead with the development last month.
The developer is hoping to have the Hotel open for business prior to the Rugby World Cup in 2011 with construction expected to start in December this year.
"Inevitably, because of the natural landscape values of Central Otago, there is always a high level of public interest associated with these developments. The key is to be well researched and work closely with all the parties affected by the proposals," she said.
ENDS

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