South Island Law Firm Picks Up Big Otago Developments
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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