Cardrona village a step closer

Yearround destination plan

A PROPOSAL to build a 600section village and 12hole golf course just outside Cardrona township is one step closer to reality.

Plan change 52 seeks to alter the 131ha Mt Cardrona Station Special Zone established in 2011, which would allow up to 622 residential lots to be developed, as well as a 12hole ‘‘links style’’ golf course and fourstar hotel.

Mt Cardrona Station owner Chris Morton wanted to make changes to the special zone, which had not been developed, to suit the current needs of the market and enable the Cardrona Valley to become a yearround destination.

According to an economic report by Fraser Colgraves from consultancy firm Insight Economics, the average selling price of one of the lots would be between $925,000 and $878,000.

Consultant planner Nigel Bryce has recommended a few minor changes to Mt Cardrona Station’s amended plan change proposal.

A hearing on the plan change will be held at the Lake Wanaka Centre in Wanaka at 10am on July 11.

Independent commissioners Jan Caunter (chairwoman), Rachel Dimery and Cr Ross McRobie will hear the application by Mt Cardrona Station for the private plan change.

A total of 10 submissions were made on the proposal and no submitter sought the plan change be declined.

Concerns were raised about the area between the special zone and existing properties in Pringles Creek Rd and Gin and Raspberry Lane, the effect the street lighting would have on the night sky and the develop ment’s water usage.

Mr Bryce has recommended a provision be included in the plan change to avoid upward spill of light into the night sky, through appropriate control of the design and type of street lighting.

Other recommendations made include specifying native plant species already found in the area be used in landscaping and an amendment to help preserve the heritage of the area from the building and ongoing maintenance of the golf course.

Mr Morton could not be contacted yesterday but in April he told the Otago Daily Times he was confident all the issues raised by the submitters would be resolved before the hearing took place.

Support for the plan has come from the Cardrona Residents Association, neighbouring Cardrona Alpine Resort and Back Country Quads, a motorcycle trekking company based in the Cardrona Valley.

tim.miller@odt.co.nz