The sport of polo is coming to Queenstown.
Commissioner Bob Nixon has granted conditional consent for a polo club, subdivision and residential building platforms on a 84.96ha site in Malaghans Rd.
Behind the proposal are Jonathan Gabler and his partner Lynley Fong, of TJ Investments Pte Ltd and Ta Property Trust Ltd. Mr Gabler is originally from Australia, but lives in Singapore with Ms Fong and the couple's two children.
Mr Nixon's decision follows a resource consent hearing in Queenstown in September, at which the impact on the landscape was the key issues raised.
The site already had consent for five residential building platforms - the polo facility would require a resubdivision of the existing allotments.
''The effect of subdividing properties can have consequent landscape effects resulting from fragmented ownership, whereby each separate owner may pursue different land use options, planting styles and fencing arrangements,'' Mr Nixon's decision said.
''The applicant's proposal was to manage the central portion of the site for polo playing and its associated grazing and holding facilities, with the balance of the land remaining in pastoral farming.
''The effect of this would be to have an integrated management regime over 90% of the site, rather than four separate owners `doing their own thing'.''
While the proposal contained a ''significant cluster'' of buildings and fencing - associated with stables, a clubhouse and a barn, the decision said that development would have ''relatively limited and fleeting visibility'' from Coronet Peak Rd.
''We are also mindful of the fact that despite widespread notification there have been no submissions opposing the development.''
Positive benefits of the proposal - along with providing benefits for the applicant - would be ''at least a modest benefit for tourists and recreational activities in the district through providing an activity that is not currently represented or provided for''.
At the hearing, Mr Gabler said the million-dollar venture would provide ongoing and wide-ranging benefits to the resort.
That included attracting overseas players to what he believed would be ''the southernmost polo facility in the world'', which would provide downstream benefits to other businesses.
It would also create jobs, requiring at least a full-time property/operations/polo manager; a seasonal polo professional for about 30 weeks a year; and a seasonal polo groom also required about 30 weeks a year.
Mr Nixon was satisfied the proposal would make at least efficient, ''and arguably more efficient'', use of the site than would occur for subdivision and dwellings, particularly in relation to fragmentation of the land ''into what would almost inevitably be hobby farming blocks''.
Under the conditions, the polo field, stage one of the stables, three arenas and structural landscaping, along with post and rail fencing, must be completed before construction of the clubhouse can begin.
The consent allows for a maximum of seven tournaments in any calendar year - and no more than two a month - catering for up to 300 people, over a maximum of seven consecutive days.
That does not include daily practice sessions, weekly ''friendly'' matches, or competitive matches held among the club members.
