A mammoth $750 million development at Gibbston’s gathering steam.
Title’s just come through for 33 sections in Gibbston Valley Resort’s first stage, The Reserve, while work’s also started on a Greg Turner-designed golf course, and plans for a club house are with Queenstown’s council.
In August, Mountain Scene reported Gibbston Valley Winery CEO Greg Hunt had to pull pin on 28 properties in The Vines, part of the 400-hectare resort, due to cost increases caused by Covid.
Purchasers, including England cricket coach and former Black Cap Brendon McCullum, were refunded deposits and offered sections in The Reserve, opposite the winery’s concert venue, priced from about $1.5m.
McCullum says it was an ‘‘easy decision’’ to make.
‘‘Central Otago has always held great memories for me … my family and I can’t wait to be a part of the Gibbston Valley Resort community and start enjoying the lifestyle.”
Hunt tells Scene this week about 70% of those sections have now sold and construction of the first homes is expected next month, with up to 10 underway by the end of this year.
Simultaneously, the nine-hole golf course is also starting to take shape.
‘‘We’ve got this big, huge two-tier putting green being constructed right now, and then we’re kicking straight into the golf course.’’
Hunt expects that will be ‘‘fairly close’’ to completion by the end of next year, though notes it’s likely only five or six of the holes will be ready for play then, with the remainder likely needing another season to grow in.
He hopes construction on the clubhouse, to include an outdoor pool, spa, barbecue and concourse, will start in April and also be finished by the end of next year.
And, they’re about to do a ‘‘limited pre-release’’ of the The Rockery, 13 sections, ranging from about 1200 square metres to 1800sqm.
Hunt says it’s all good news after a tough couple of years.
‘‘[It] makes a huge difference to have some revenue coming in, rather than expenses going out.
‘‘People doubted it, as they do, but first of all I want to meet our obligations to our owners and the general tourism public, but now what these sales are doing are giving us the ability to keep going and build the infrastructure … and keep building it.’’
Hunt’s also aiming to have two underpasses complete by early 2025.
