Wanaka skifield pioneers the Lee family have applied for resource consent to carve up their Waiorau Station and Pisa Range skifield operations.
Waiorau Station owner John Lee said he was unable to comment on whether the move had anything to do with the family's attempts to attract an investment partner to advance their project to build New Zealand's first skifield gondola.
The Lees want to subdivide their 2698ha Waiorau Station and Pisa Range skifield operations into five allotments.
"It has always been a thought we've had [to subdivide], and allows us to explore our [land-use] options," Mr Lee said.
Subdividing allows the different land-use activities and their associated companies to be split into separate certificates of title, to allow separate ownership for each established operation.
Four of the proposed lots are fully contained within the designated Waiorau Ski Area sub-zone, which allows for permitted buildings and operations associated with skifield activities.
The remaining rural general-zoned lot, (about 1694ha), which lies outside the ski area sub-zone, is used for farming operations; and the consented $17 million gondola operation would run through this.
The Lee's existing Pisa Range operations include the nordic skiing trails associated with the Snow Farm (309ha) and freestyle terrain facility Snow Park (451ha).
A proposed Pisa Range Alpine Charitable Trust is being set up with the intention to administer the Snow Farm operations and ensure that lower-profile sports, such as cross-country skiing, high-altitude training, mountain-biking, sled dog racing, biathlon, hiking, ski-orienteering, and outdoor pursuits, are backed.
The Lees have a vision of an "alpine Disneyland", to run alongside their Snow Park operations; and this includes plans for a Roaring Meg ski resort and mountain-top hotel, all accessed by gondola.
The proposed Lot 1 (242ha) contains the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground.
This is a consortium-owned winter vehicle-testing facility and buildings, and includes the former Snow Farm lodge.
The Lees set up the SHPG in 1991 and sold it in 2005 for an estimated price of $20 million. The consortium-owned SHPG bought the Snow Farm lodge last year.
Waiorau Station was put up for international tender in September.
Mr Lee declined to discuss whether the international credit crunch was affecting the search for investment partners.
He acknowledged "times were tough", and said the subdivision application was part of a long-term strategy.
