Tekapo build to progress by summer
Tekapo’s multi-million dollar development will kick into gear again this summer, with construction set to get underway on some big ticket projects.
The construction of a multi-million dollar youth hostel as a part of the Lakeside Dr development is expected to begin by the end of this month, Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand ( YHANZ) chief executive Mark Wells confirmed on Tuesday.
Upgrades to stormwater drainage and sewage systems on Lakeside Dr were all but complete, and work on a new playground and landscaping has also begun.
Developers of a luxury five star hotel, and the new Earth and Sky building, were hopeful consents would be granted by the Mackenzie District Council so building could commence by the end of the year.
Development project manager Murray Cox said upgrades to stormwater drainage and sewage systems on Lakeside Dr were all but complete.
New playground equipment and landscaping on the domain had started, with the playground expected to be completed ‘‘sometime over summer’’, Cox said.
‘‘Potentially in another 12 months there could be a few big buildings.’’ He said the increase of tourists through the town over summer would not have an impact on the development.
‘‘As construction starts on YHA and the hotel we will be making sure construction sites are fenced off to the public, so the public can move around, [as well as contractors] without getting in each other’s way.’’
One of the major issues was the control of dust from construction sites over the summer period, which could be a nuisance, he said.
‘‘Usually we ask developers to dampen down the areas.’’ Wells expected the construction of the new YHA hostel to begin by the end of October.
The total cost of the project was in excess of $9 million. It would provide a 120 bed facility with a mix of private ensuite and multi-share rooms, and include a communal living and kitchen areas and a licensed cafe which would be open to the public, Wells said.
‘‘It has taken quite some time to get to this stage, and we are really happy with the concept.
‘‘There is currently a shortage of accommodation and forecasts of growing demand. Strategically, the structure of our hostel network is informed by visitor flows and clearly Tekapo is becoming an increasingly important tourism destination.’’
The construction of the hostel was expected to be finished by October 2018.
The developer of a luxury five star hotel, Anthony Tosswill, was granted resource consent in August to build Lake Tekapo Resort Ltd’s 200-room hotel and conference centre on Lakeside Dr.
Last week Tosswill said a building consent application was yet to be officially lodged with the Mackenzie District Council for the Tekapo development, as Tosswill was waiting for the council to review amendments made by a commissioner to the resource consent regarding concerns relating to some aspects of the building’s design, including height and car parking issues.
The plan details include a chapel, an indoor swimming pool, a gym and health spa facilities.
Earth and Sky general manger Margaret Munro said resource consent had been lodged for the new Earth and Sky headquarters with the Mackenzie District Council and was hopeful to have consent approved before the end of the year.