$100m Queenstown development plans unveiled

An artist's impression of Queenstown Central's $100 million development in Frankton.

Queenstown is not in danger of having too many shops, a developer says, as a $100 million retail and hospitality project for the Frankton Flats is unveiled.

Auckland developer Queenstown Central Ltd gained resource consent for its proposed 4.7ha complex last Friday.

It will add 20,000sqm of retailing alongside Five Mile and Remarkables Park, on the other side of the airport, which are both of similar size.

Queenstown Central general manager Simon Holloway said Queenstown could take more.

He said during the seven-year-long plan change debate over the zoning of the 22ha site in central Queenstown, there was clear demographic evidence that with the growth of Queenstown, even over the next 15 years, there was still an undersupply of retail-zoned land.

Colliers International's Evan Harris, of Christchurch, said more than 60 per cent of stage one had already been committed to before marketing had even started.

The development's first stage includes anchor tenant Kmart's 4000sqm store and a "main street" of fashion and retail stores.

Also approved is a town square which will be surrounded by a hospitality precinct including a tavern, restaurants and fast food joints.

There would also be a five-storey, 124-room building for either visitor or residential accommodation.

Earthworks started this week.

Rather than Frankton Flats being just a place where you pick up your groceries, it's a place to come and recreate and eat and shop.

Canterbury contractor March Construction, as ordered by the High Court, is removing stored fill from Five Mile's original "Hendo's Hole" excavation.

Holloway expected the first stage to be completed by the end of next year or early 2018.

Holloway said the town centre should appeal to residents living beyond Frankton who would not need to travel to the Queenstown CBD.

"Rather than Frankton Flats being just a place where you pick up your groceries, it's a place to come and recreate and eat and shop."

- Otago Daily Times.