Developer for Oamaru Harbour still unconfirmed

NO deal has been signed for the development of new visitor accommodation at Oamaru Harbour.

But the Waitaki District Council would consider two ‘‘really positive options’’ for waterfront accommodation at a 7400sq m site in Esplanade Dr next month, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said.

The council called for expressions of interest for two Oamaru Harbour sites in August last year, and at a publicexcluded council meeting in December the council directed chief executive Fergus Power to enter negotiations with a preferred developer for a 6200sq m site in Tyne St.

At the time Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the potential development of harbour accommodation represented ‘‘transformational change’’ and ‘‘a multimilliondollar investment’’ in the area.

Since February, the council has declined to comment on the Tyne St proposal.

‘‘There’s still no signed agreement, there’s been a lot of due diligence carried out,’’ Mr Kircher said on Thursday.

‘‘The process has taken longer than expected, but there has been work being carried out all the way through.’’

Expression of interest documents noted the land had had mixed uses in the past ‘‘including harbour operations, storage, and petroleum distribution’’.

Among the work being carried out was quantifying the past contamination of the site, Mr Kircher said.

Work under way to realign Waterfront Rd, which would border the Tyne St site, could also now allow confirmation of what the new road’s height would be.

Mr Kircher again declined to offer details on the proposal, or to name the potential developer, but said they were ‘‘experienced operators with a very good reputation for excellent quality and service’’.

‘‘Because of the zoning, the district plan rules are very permissive there, but we are very mindful that this needs to be a project that works as well as possible,’’ Mr Kircher said.

‘‘We are being mindful of neighbours’ views and the overall look of the building, as part of the sale process we are proposing some limitations there to safeguard that as much as possible.’’

The second site, in Esplanade Rd, requires McKeown Group Ltd to shift its operations, but expression of interest documents state the site will be cleared before June 2019.

Mr Kircher said there were already ‘‘quite a few’’ accommodation options being developed or proposed in Oamaru and Esplanade Rd was ‘‘really a premium site’’.

‘‘Whatever goes on there we want to make absolutely sure it is the best possible option for the district,’’ he said. ‘‘We won’t get this opportunity again really.’’