QUEENSTOWN + LAKES DISTRICT| Projects

[youngtim]

Originally Posted by Kiwi_Rich

Arrowtown is amazing isn't it?

Although I wouldn't be surprised if residents get asked a similar question to one I was once asked by an American tourist in Bath which was 'When does this place close for the winter?' thinking that the whole town was in fact some kind of Georgian disneyland style attraction opne only for the benefit of tourists during the summer months....

I guess you're the Idiot... The reason the Americans tourists were asking if it closes down for the winter, is because in many locations in the states, small historic towns do for the most part close down in winter, due to the giant amounts of snow they receive. Creede Colorado, looks a lot like Arrowtown, very charming, a minor amount of tourism, small stores local stores etc, but the fact remains that they receive around 7 meters of snow annually, and it's just not feasable to stay open during winter etc. I happened to go to Creed in the middle of winter a couple months ago, and 80% of the stores were closed. This is most likely the reason that those "stupid Americans" asked if the town closes for the winter.

you ignorant fuck

[KaneD]

Settle down youngtim - Yes, many American touristy outposts do close down so I agree with you on this point. But I find it rather ignorant of Americans that they should assume (and often expect) that every other country should be like theirs.

I have lost count of the number of times I've heard Americans complaining that there was nowhere to eat in many of our towns and cities... In actual fact they had plenty of places to eat at, just not the crappy McDonald's, KFC and Burger King that they were expecting.

So I don't think it was KiwiRich that was the 'ignorant fuck' here, I think is is the Americans that make such comments in the first place.

[Richard7666]

Originally Posted by youngtim

I guess you're the Idiot... The reason the Americans tourists were asking if it closes down for the winter, is because in many locations in the states, small historic towns do for the most part close down in winter, due to the giant amounts of snow they receive. Creede Colorado, looks a lot like Arrowtown, very charming, a minor amount of tourism, small stores local stores etc, but the fact remains that they receive around 7 meters of snow annually, and it's just not feasable to stay open during winter etc. I happened to go to Creed in the middle of winter a couple months ago, and 80% of the stores were closed. This is most likely the reason that those "stupid Americans" asked if the town closes for the winter.

you ignorant fuck

Dude...no one said anything about "stupid Americans" aside from you. You're putting words into peoples' mouths (so to speak).

[KIWIKAAS]

Originally Posted by KaneD

Settle down youngtim - Yes, many American touristy outposts do close down so I agree with you on this point. But I find it rather ignorant of Americans that they should assume (and often expect) that every other country should be like theirs.

I have lost count of the number of times I've heard Americans complaining that there was nowhere to eat in many of our towns and cities... In actual fact they had plenty of places to eat at, just not the crappy McDonald's, KFC and Burger King that they were expecting.

So I don't think it was KiwiRich that was the 'ignorant fuck' here, I think is is the Americans that make such comments in the first place.

Since NZ comes second to the US in McDonalds restuarants per capita there should be plenty of gastronomical delights to be had

[youngtim]

Originally Posted by Richard7666

Dude...no one said anything about "stupid Americans" aside from you. You're putting words into peoples' mouths (so to speak).

you don't have to be rocket scientist to figure out what was meant in the statement about americans, and then the subsequent symbol

[DML2]

Originally Posted by youngtim

you don't have to be rocket scientist to figure out what was meant in the statement about americans, and then the subsequent symbol

You can't quote him as having said "stupid Americans" though

[KaneD]

Originally Posted by KIWIKAAS

Since NZ comes second to the US in McDonalds restuarants per capita there should be plenty of gastronomical delights to be had

Yes, sad isn't it?

But although we do have a high number of McD's around, they were mostly only in the larger urban areas, whereas many of the smaller cities and towns up until about 5-10 years ago didn't have them - whereas in the US, they're in most towns and are often in the middle of nowhere near an Interstate for example.

[youngtim]

The main reason you'll find so many McDonalds etc on interstates in the US is because of the vast distances that people drive, and often it's your only option to stop, get something quick and affordable to fill the void. and continue on the road. I've taken some long trips here, 22 hours Denver to New Orleans, 23 hours, Denver to Wisconsin, and on those trips, those stops on the road side are all you've got really for food on the trip.
In NZ, most trips we take are 2-6 hours, and often you don't even need a meal break on the way, but when you're putting in 12 - 16 hours a day, then yes, those fast food restaurants certainly are convenient...
I guess providing people with a convenient option is evil though...

[Blah]

Originally Posted by youngtim

I guess you're the Idiot... The reason the Americans tourists were asking if it closes down for the winter, is because in many locations in the states, small historic towns do for the most part close down in winter, due to the giant amounts of snow they receive. Creede Colorado, looks a lot like Arrowtown, very charming, a minor amount of tourism, small stores local stores etc, but the fact remains that they receive around 7 meters of snow annually, and it's just not feasable to stay open during winter etc. I happened to go to Creed in the middle of winter a couple months ago, and 80% of the stores were closed. This is most likely the reason that those "stupid Americans" asked if the town closes for the winter.

you ignorant fuck

He never said "stupid Americans" and there's no need to be abusive.

[Richard7666]

SIT to open Qtown campus

New Queenstown Campus: Flood of inquiries as SIT settles in

Author: Sue Fea, The Southland Times
Date posted: 02-04-2009

The Southern Institute of Technology's expansion into Queenstown had drawn a huge response from those keen to learn everything from Te Reo Maori to beauty therapy, campus manager Pam Hulls said.

The smart new 350-square-metre campus on the second floor of Dart House in the Remarkables Park shopping centre was officially opened last week with a Maori blessing.

The campus includes a "high- spec" chef's demonstration kitchen, including a new $20000 state-of-the-art oven.

Mrs Hulls said they had been delighted with the huge amount of interest in some courses with about 100 students aged from 18 to 60 enrolled for all manner of classes under SIT's popular Zero Fees scheme.

Eight tutors had been appointed, initially on part-time contracts, but the demand had been such that Mrs Hulls said she expected fulltime courses to be introduced soon.

"We've had inquiries for everything from early childhood education to entertainment security (bouncers) and health and safety ..." Enrolments for the Te Reo Maori classes had been very strong with "every nationality you can imagine" enrolling.

Short courses were on offer for skills relevant to tourism and travel, liquor licensing, barista, food safety, desktop publishing and graphics and information technology, with some papers being offered from business and hotel management degrees and diplomas.

In the future SIT hoped to offer fulltime degree and diploma courses as demand required.

There had been such a huge demand with about 40 people inquiring about beauty therapy courses that it was now "highly likely" these would be introduced fulltime from July, Mrs Hulls

Back to SIT News

and this:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the muscle-bound Californian governor, is building a multimillion-dollar home overlooking idyllic Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown.

It is understood plans have been drawn up for a holiday home after the Terminator star bought the land, but building work is yet to start.

The former bodybuilder, who already owns a mansion in southern California and an estate in Idaho, is not the first celebrity to be drawn to the area's picturesque beauty. Country singer Shania Twain bought two properties near Wanaka and actor Sam Neil and millionaire jeweller Michael Hill also call it home.

Contractors on the Schwarzenegger build have been sworn to secrecy. Project manager Warwick Weber, of Weber Consulting , declined to comment and denied it was Schwarzenegger's house.

"Our confidentiality agreement on the project is indefinite," he said.

Lakes Environmental chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the development would require a building consent but an application could be filed under any name.

A spokeswoman for the Overseas Investment Office said it had not received an application from Mr Schwarzenegger. Applications are required only if an overseas person buys sensitive land or business assets worth more than $100 million.

It is not known how much time the governor and his wife Maria Shriver, niece of former US president John F Kennedy, and their four teenage children will spend in New Zealand.

Queenstown Lakes District Deputy Mayor John Wilson said he had not heard of the development plans but said he thought the family would be accepted and treated "just like anyone else".

"Certainly, in the case of Shania Twain she just blends in and no-one makes any fuss," he said.

And it seems the commute is unlikely to faze him.

Mr Schwarzenegger caused waves after he declined to move to Sacramento, California's state capital, when he became governor. Instead he decided to commute to work three hours by private jet from his mansion in Brentwood, southern California. Critics noted this flew in the face of his crusade against global warming and stated aim to be the greenest California governor in history.

His aides said the governor paid for the commute himself a tab of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and bought pollution credits to offset the environmental damage. He has also reportedly converted his fleet of Hummers to run on bio-fuel and hydrogen.No-one was available for comment at Mr Schwarzenegger's office yesterday.

- The Dominion Post

[Svartmetall]

Oh dear...

Originally Posted by Scoop

Receivers appointed over Queenstown development

Press Release - KordaMentha

Brendon Gibson and Grant Graham of KordaMentha were appointed Receivers over Melview (Kawarau Falls Station) Investments Limited and Melview (Kawarau Falls Station) Development Limited, entities associated with Stage 1 of the development known as Kawarau Falls …

PRESS STATEMENT 26 May 2009

Brendon Gibson and Grant Graham of KordaMentha were appointed Receivers over Melview (Kawarau Falls Station) Investments Limited and Melview (Kawarau Falls Station) Development Limited, entities associated with Stage 1 of the development known as Kawarau Falls Station in Queenstown.

Mr Gibson said: “This is a complex development being built in multiple stages. Our immediate task will be to understand the construction costs and associated revenue streams for the project.

The current intention is that construction work will continue to be funded in the interim while all the options are assessed.

We envisage that this assessment will most likely take a couple of weeks.”

ENDS

[UglyBob]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

Oh dear...

Yeah it's a $1000 million dollar project -- not good for Queenstown if it folds.

[Richard7666]

"Council building plan criticised
Last updated 05:00 06/06/2009

By BEN HEATHER - The Southland Times Last updated 05:00 06/06/2009


Plans for a new council building in Queenstown were heavily criticised yesterday, with several labelling it an unnecessary luxury.

The $30 million project is raised as an option in the Queenstown Lakes District Council's 10-year plan, which also forecasts a $413 million debt by 2019.

Ratepayers will be expected to pay half of the $30 million.

At a hearing yesterday, submitter Jef Desbecker said it was the wrong time for the council to be asking for new toys.

"Don't you dare burden us with more debt for your personal grand designs," he said.

"Times are tough and things are slowing down. We all have to slow down and that includes you."

Winter Games chairman Eion Edgar said the building was a good idea but not in "these strident financial times", pointing to the negative economic impact of the empty office space a move would leave in its wake.

In response to concerns raised by submitters, Mayor Clive Geddes said the numbers had been crunched and building new offices would cost "more or less" the same as continuing to rent."

[Jesse24]

A update by arjanveen on Flickr from November last year though.

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[QinBriz]

Anybody know whats happening with the 5 mile development. And the farm land on the east/south of the airport?

[greenwelly]

Originally Posted by QinBriz

Anybody know whats happening with the 5 mile development. And the farm land on the east/south of the airport?

5 Mile, or Hendos hole, is a dead as a project can get.

There are a number of failed project sites that will get picked up before 5 mile, (The Hilton site behind pounamu springs to mind), also everyone is $hit scared that K'Falls will tip over.

The other big Dvt to watch closely is what happens at Jacks point, whether it can get people to buy and move in.

[jarden]

Originally Posted by Jesse24

Another Smith project, this one is opposite the mall. There was a mobile crane and concrete pumping going on during the week. It seems like a site where a crane would go up.

Hey Jesse Glad you enjoyed Queenstown. Thats actually a Naylor Love building project. Smith is the crane hire company from Christchurch.

[QinBriz]

Im pretty sure I heard PM John Key on Radio Sport saying he was looing forward to the winter games in Queenstown and that it would show whether Queenstown could host the Winter Olympics. I jumped out of my seat, the host of the radio show didnt seem interested....

[UglyBob]

Originally Posted by QinBriz

Im pretty sure I heard PM John Key on Radio Sport saying he was looing forward to the winter games in Queenstown and that it would show whether Queenstown could host the Winter Olympics. I jumped out of my seat, the host of the radio show didnt seem interested....

There may be ambitions for the winter games downstream but from what I've read it's been promoted as a biennial event which countries can use to prepare for the winter Olympics. I doubt Queenstown has the infrastructure to cope with an Olympics; at any rate the Winter Games is an Otago wide initiative with events at Wanaka, Naseby and Dunedin. If there was to be an Olympics bid I imagine it would also be on that basis.

Official website: http://www.wintergamesnz.com/

[Richard7666]

Indeed...the town's two petrol stations and one supermarket would be pushed to their limit. That's why Christchurch has been floated as the 'base' for any Winter Olympics bid.