Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort ‘hive of activity’

Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort ‘hive of activity’ as building and developments take off

Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to showcase its stunning 27-hole golf course during the NZ Open later this month.

Up to 200 staff work daily to keep the five-star resort ‘humming’, and it’s also a hive of activity in other – less immediately obvious – ways with building and development activity seeing 21 houses under construction, major earthworks underway, and up to 500 other construction industry staff employed indirectly at the property on a daily basis.

The building and development boom is being driven by increased business confidence, ‘flying’ sales figures in December and January, and properties being bought off the plans by investors and would-be residents.

“It’s fair to say that after a slow start to our financial year from October 2013 the resort has been simply humming since the lead up to Christmas,” said Millbrook Property and Development Manager Ben O’Malley.

“Construction of an $8m, 23-lot subdivision started in late December, and we’ve had $23m of offers on properties, resulting in $13.8m of sales in the last four months since the start of our financial year.

“We’ve seen multiple offers on certain property types, both in new sales and re-sales, and of nine sales so far, seven of them have been Kiwis.

“The number of people working on and around our 500-acre site is impressive, with ten private homes and 11 Millbrook properties.

“The beauty of Millbrook’s wide open green spaces is that largely members of the public don’t see that hive of activity which is to a great degree behind the scenes.

“It does mean though that Millbrook is a very major employer in the district and I’d have to say that this is on a par with one of our busiest times ever.

“With the level of development and confidence we’re seeing in Millbrook at the moment, combined with the exposure it’s about to receive nationwide and international coverage through Sky Sports it’s a good sign that after 21 years, Millbrook has truly come of age.”

Mr O’Malley said that the returning trend of buying off the plans was particularly pleasing.

“It demonstrates better than anything else that Millbrook’s reputation for quality, combined with a community spirit that makes it THE place to live in the Wakatipu Basin, now precedes it.

“Buyers know we’re going to deliver what we say we’re going to do because they only have to look around them to see the highest levels of quality combined with diverse products that meet market demand, whether it’s a family home, a holiday house or investment.

“In recent months some buyers of re-sales and new sales have been in competitive situations with other buyers, which has required them to pay over the asking price to secure their dream property.

“We’re seeing a gradual increase in the number of people living permanently at the resort, or those who are buying with a view to living here permanently in the future.

“In some cases there are generations of families now living the ultimate Millbrook lifestyle.”

Earthworks on the next 23-lot Stage 3B development overlooking the fourth fairway of the Coronet Nine golf course are scheduled to be completed by March 2015.

“Queenstown’s one of the greatest places in New Zealand to own a second home, holiday home, or to live and work permanently, especially as internet accessibility improves,” said Mr O’Malley.

He said the Millbrook lifestyle appealed very strongly to the family market in particular which had experienced good percentage growth.

“I’ve said before that we have the confidence to continue construction at a faster pace than ever before and 2014 is certainly proving us right.”

A Coronet Square show home is currently open for viewing at Millbrook, and a new Ski Barn will open in April as a show home.

Millbrook Resort recently marked an important milestone, celebrating twenty-one years since it first opened its gates. It is the largest luxury golf and lifestyle resort in the South Island, featuring a winning combination of a stunning Central Otago location matched with magnificent architecturally-designed homes within 20 minutes’ drive of a booming year-round destination.

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