Tourism booms in Wanaka

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 13

Tourism booms in Wanaka

Wanaka appears to be one of the fastest growing development areas in the South Island. Among the many projects announced this year are a $l2 million hotel complex to be built next to the showgrounds and a $4 million, 26-unit, time-share block which will overlook Lake Wanaka. The latest development is four luxury apartments, worth $300,000, which will be built between Lismore Street and Lakeside Drive. The apartments feature a modern, modular design and offer either two or three bedrooms. Each has a multllevel living area, decking

on both levels, two bathrooms and double garages backing on to a community courtyard area. Andrew Barclay, the architect and developer, explains the angular lines of their, design. The apartments are not intended to blend in to the background, he declares, but rather create a definitive contrast in a sharp, visual manner. “I feel that the landscape itself is strong enough to use strong colours and shapes — by using such a sharp contrasting form you enhance both the landscape and the form of the building.” The apartments are

aimed mainly at overseas people who want a high-quality base in one of the fastest growing tourist areas in New Zealand, he says. “We offer something previously only available in Queenstown, but now in a place where we believe there will be a significant tourist boom.” Andrew Barclay says he is breaking ground in that the apartments are more luxurious than most of those In Queenstown. “They are aimed at overseas clients and corporate New Zealand clients. We also believe there are local people ready to pay for the

position and convenience of living there.” None of the apartments has yet been sold, but Andrew Barclay is not concerned. “We have been marketing only from Christchurch south until last week-end — we have just gone into advertising them in Wellington. “We have had significant response from the newspaper advertisement We had 52 interested people, with three seriously interested.” Two apartments are expected to be finished by the end of this month. The other should be finished by early September.