Development of the park on a 22ha site on the northern boundary of Oamaru east of State Highway 1 was announced last year by Oamaru Land Holdings, which bought the site in 2008.
It is being handled exclusively by A.C. Spivey Ltd real estate agents, and yesterday Tony Spivey sen said interest had already been expressed in seven of the 17 lots in the first stage.
The first stage, at the southern end of about half the site, has lots ranging in size from 2810sq m to 9500sq m, costing from $100 (plus GST) to $150 (plus GST) a sq metre for premium sites.
Mr Spivey said costing and design details were now being completed for the development, after which buyers, some of whom were carrying out feasibility studies, would make final decisions.
Mr Spivey hoped a physical start on the development would be made before the middle of the year, "if not earlier".
News the development was to go ahead was released towards the end of December, followed by a sign about the proposal being put up next to SH1 at the site.
From the news media reports and sign, interest had grown before the development was fully advertised.
Access to the park will be from SH1, opposite the racecourse lay-by, with slip lanes provided for safe entry and exit. The front of the park will be landscaped, with an internal loop road accessing the lots, which will also provide access for future stages on the northern end of the land.
Oamaru Land Holdings Ltd is owned by Auckland businessmen Andrew and Michael Carpenter.
The site was owned by Japanese businessman, the late Dr Hirotomo Ochi, who also owned Teschemakers. He died in 2005 and the site was bought by the Carpenters, initially through their company, TR Group Ltd.
