Resort will be in a league of its own

The 18-hole golf course in the approved $300 million Gibbston Valley Station resort will not vie with The Hills to host the New Zealand Golf Open, the company says.

Gibbston Valley Station managing director Greg Hunt said the Greg Turner-designed course, on the terrace between the Kawarau River and State Highway 6, would be different from other courses in the district.

It would be a "Central Otago-style" course, where golfers could enjoy the unique terrain, rather than a championship-style golf course.

"We're in an environment where we're not going to have bunkers. We'll be using the existing schist outcrops, the clumps of old man matagouri and the Kawarau River boundary to create our hazards."

Mr Hunt said the affordable resort would be marketed in New Zealand and Australia to mature travellers interested in wine, food and golf, and to active families and couples keen on the recreational equestrian, walking and cycling trails.

"Golfers will play in the spring and fall, so it adds a strong tourism element in those shoulder seasons for the entire Wakatipu basin."

The project was being privately funded by partners Phil Griffith, Greg Hunt, Bill Hartman, Mike McPherson and Mike Stone. Outside financial institutions were not involved, Gibbston Valley Station said.

Mr Hunt said it was a relief resource consent was granted to build the resort after more than two years of consultation and refinement of plans.

The rest of the year would be spent on planning, preparation of working drawings and marketing ahead of the official project launch at the Gibbston Harvest Festival, in March 2010.

A marquee would feature a model of the resort, present information and Gibbston Valley Station representatives will be on hand to answer community questions.

"We're looking at summer 2010 into 2011 to start the first stage of construction," Mr Hunt said.

The Vintners Village hub of the resort would feature 13 commercial buildings, including staff accommodation, on 3000sq m of land.

"The first building will be a deli and cellar door to open late 2011 into 2012, to promote the wines and create a community gathering point," he said.

An information centre, similar to a Department of Conservation visitor centre, would be built to guide visitors to the 10km of public walking trails on Gibbston Valley Station land. The station would link with the Gibbston Trail, being developed by the Gibbston Trails Trust.

Mr Hunt said the second stage would involve a farmers market and artisans workshops in 2012-13.

A health and fitness centre would open in 2013, the golf clubhouse, retail outlet and restaurant would be developed in 2013-14. The conference facility, catering for 80 guests, was set for 2014-15.

Gibbston Valley Station

• Vintners Village, hub of resort, will include cellar door, farmers market, cafe, artisan workshops, galleries, golf clubhouse, information centre, hotel reception, conference and function facility, plus health and fitness facility.

• Community gathering place to include outdoor swimming pool on north side of State Highway 6, between golf course villas and residential units.

• 42 winery villas in two separate clusters more than 150m apart.

• 30 visitor apartments accessed via underpass from Vintners Village.

• 13 residential units east of golf course.

• Spa complex adjoining Toms Creek, consisting of six single-storey buildings.

• About 14ha to be predominantly pinot noir vineyard.

• Just over 100ha of the 405ha owned by Gibbston Valley Station Ltd will be developed.

• About 305ha reserved as a high-country sheep and cattle farm.

• 125ha of native ecology and 20ha of archaeological mining heritage will be protected and opened to the public.

• Development is expected to be fully operational in 2017.

• Resort aims to be environmentally sustainable and will apply for Green Globe status.