Change of focus for Waterfall Park
A Queenstown property developer has submitted revised plans for a major project at Waterfall Park, near Arrowtown.
Waterfall Park Developments Limited, owned by high-profile developers Chris and Michaela Meehan, was granted consent in 2019 to build a 380-room hotel and spa resort in the valley, near Lake Hayes.
But it has now reimagined the development, as a premium retirement / later living complex, with a smaller boutique hotel.
Northbrook Waterfall Park, if approved, will feature three residential buildings containing 148 private residential apartments and a care building containing 12 serviced apartments, 23 high-care units and 13 private residential apartments.
It will also feature an arrivals and amenities building with a pool, gym, reception and café at the southern end of the valley, interfacing with the existing historic Ayrburn Domain immediately to the south, and a 16-room hotel with spa facilities.
Waterfall Park Developments Limited is owned by the Meehan’s main company, Winton, which has developed residential property across Queenstown Lakes and New Zealand, including the huge Northlake subdivision in Wānaka.
Winton’s Queenstown general manager Lauren Christie says the Waterfall Park development is in line with Winton’s overall strategy of creating a premium later living brand ‘Northbrook’. Winton has five locations throughout New Zealand which will be developed into Northbrook.
“Covid related tourism downturn was a factor in the change of use, combined with the forecasted shortfall in the supply of later living options in the region and New Zealand,” Christie says.
“While we still love the original nature-influenced hotel and wellness centre, we also believe Waterfall Park is the perfect backdrop for a premium later living property where residents can enjoy the outdoors and serenity in their later years.”
Over the course of the multi-year project, the development will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and create hundreds of jobs, she says. But she can’t put a definite timeframe around construction, as it depends on gaining consent.
“It is hard to anticipate the timing of the consenting process. However, we are in a position to commence as soon as consent is received.
“It will be a rolling build program. Once construction starts, it will be an 18 month - two-year build until welcoming the first residents.”
The underlying design philosophy and the design itself remains the same as the approved hotel plans, tweaked to reflect the change to a retirement complex.
“We are excited to share the Waterfall Park Northbrook vision and believe this outcome is a silver lining to the pandemic-driven change in market dynamics.”
