Land development in Alexandra is starting to take off, with two new resource consent applications underway - including a new one for the old William Hill Winery site on Dunstan Rd.

Russell Ibbotson, of Molyneux Lifestyle Village (MLVL) - the company which was developing the William Hill site, had his private plan change application turned down by the Central Otago District Council (CODC) in 2021.

The Alexandra developer will make his third attempt at developing the 16ha site in the next month.

Russell said he had already spent in excess of $500,000 attempting to develop the site - firstly back in 2017, and again four years later.

Under new changes to the District Plan, the land has since been rezoned from rural residential to large lot residential, allowing for his 1500sqm sections.

“The risk is much higher now but I have an obligation to the people and it would be a shame for the town if it didn’t go ahead,” he said.

Alexandra developer Russell Ibbotson is about to lodge a resource consent application for the William Hill lifestyle development in the next month. FILE SHOT

Supportive of Ngāi Tahu’s plans in The Pines, he said it was a positive sign for the town to see residential development taking place.

Ngāi Tahu Property’s 14.4ha residential subdivision in The Pines Alexandra will eventually offer sections ranging in size from 320sqm to 2175sqm.

The resource consent application currently with the CODC proposes to be rolled out in seven stages, offering 189 sections and including five “super lots” for future comprehensive development.

General manager Blair Forgie confirmed the five “super lots’’ within the proposed development will offer purchasers a range of options for various residential housing typologies.

“With the expected variety of section sizes, there will be opportunities for anyone looking to purchase a section,” he said.

The new Pines development on the north side of Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central App

The consent also includes associated infrastructure servicing and roading and earthworks, for implementation of the subdivision, and including the extension of Wildflower Way.

Pre-application discussions between the council and Ngāi Tahu on the restricted discretionary activity have already been underway, with the land rezoned medium density residential under the new Plan Change 19.

“Ngāi Tahu Property is looking forward to delivering this residential development to support the growth of the region over the years to come.”

Russell said it was most unfortunate that it has taken seven years to get his lifestyle subdivision advanced, “and the situation is especially difficult to understand when the public demand was reflected in it twice selling out off the plans, and within a very short timeframe.”

He said the “questionable” decision made by the Central Otago District Council on his plan change in 2021 meant the Alexandra community not only missed out on a $50 million economic flow on boost, but it also had a significant detrimental financial impact on a large number of people.