July 1, 2011

For Immediate release

Green light for $160 million Christchurch golf academy and residential resort

The proposed $160 million Christchurch golf academy and residential resort near Spencerville on the north-eastern outskirts of Christchurch has been given the green light and developers are hopeful that physical work can start in the next few months.

While there are still resource consents to be gained, ECAN’s withdrawal of an appeal against the Christchurch City Council’s acceptance of Private Plan Change 45 allows the development to go ahead on the 160-hectare site.

Over eight years and $12 milion has already been invested in the project and the developers are well advanced in their planning.

The academy and residential resort will include:
• An 18 hole championship golf course.
• A professional golf training academy for up to 160 students from throughout the world
• Accommodation, living facilities and lecture theatres for students.
• A sports complex including a gym, 25m indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna.
• Approximately 86 apartments, clustered around the Academy and clubhouse and 141 residential allotments, probably ranging in size from 750 sq m to 2250 sq m. No prices have been set.

Thomas Na, spokesperson for the developers, said that he was delighted that they had finally received the go ahead.

“The academy and residential golf resort will be unique in New Zealand and Australia. It will be marketed throughout Australasia, North America, Scandinavia, Korea, Japan and China and will train students for careers in golf and golf administration.

“It will bring a strong financial boost to the area through the develoment phase, while the on-going benefits through employment and tourism will be substantial. We believe it will create postions for up to 120 full-time equivalents.

“We believe the total cost of building the academy and residential resort will be approximately $160 million. Other benefits will flow through increased publicity and marketing for Christchurch as well as tourism.

“Starting an undertaking of this magnitude is an important message to the world that Christchurch is back on its feet and not only starting the rebuilding process, but also embarking on exciting new developments,” he said.

The golf academy and residential resort has set aside 41 hectares of land beside the Styx River that is intended will be gifted to the City Council.

“The one area where we have worked hard with the different groups during the planning process is to ensure that there will be a significant environmental upgrade of this Styx wetland area.
“We will provide a restored and enhanced ecological corridor between the golf course and the Styx River which will include over $2 million of indigenous planting, a public walkway along the river, and a bridleway from the Styx River to Spencerville Road.

“This will not only be a development that golfers will enjoy, but a recreational playground for everyone with its walkways and tracks,” he said.

Benefits for Christchurch and the South Island include:

Economic
• The Christchurch golf academy will create positions up to 120 full time equivalents.
• Total building and development costs are estimated to be approximately $160 million
• Total market benefits of the project estimated to be $192 million and a net national welfare gain of $68 million.
• The estimated gross revenue summary from the Academy is expected to be $314 million
• It is anticipated that foreign direct investment will be substantial and professional golf tournaments will be economically beneficial for New Zealand because of increased publicity and increased tourism.

Education
• The Christchurch golf academy will have a strong educational focus. It aims to attract students and establish connections with educational institutions and other golf organisations.
• Students will be trained for careers in golf or golf administration
• The Christchurch golf academy will be unique in New Zealand and Australia.
• It will be marketed throughout Australasia, North America, Scandinavia, Korea, Japan and China.

Tourism
• The Academy will enhance the scope of golf destination tourism within New Zealand, and particularly within Canterbury.
• A primary focus for Canterbury Tourism is to improve seasonality. Extending the shoulder season months of April, May, September, October and November is very important to the long-term economic sustainability of the tourism sector.
• Canterbury needs a critical mass of at least four high-quality golf resorts to be recognised as a key golfing destination. The Academy and Resort will be added to Terrace Downs, Clearwater and Pegasus to enable Canterbury to better market itself as a unique golfing destination, attracting tourists to visit and remain in Canterbury.

Environment

The creation of the Christchurch golf academy will ensure a significant environmental upgrade for the area and a more economically efficient use of the land resource than now, or ever likely under the present zoning. Amongst the benefits are:

• A restored and enhanced ecological corridor between the golf course and the Styx River.
• This corridor will include over $2 million of indigenous planting, a public walkway along the river, and a bridleway from the Styx River to Spencerville Road.
• 41 ha of land beside the Styx River that is intended will be gifted to the City Council.

Other advantages
• The Christchurch golf academy will be a source of income for other golf clubs because its students will be required to gain experience on a number of different golf courses.
• The Golf academy will generate revenue from green fees for partnering clubs
• Increased export receipts including both professional New Zealand golfers and professional international golfers.
• Added market competition, greater efficiency or productivities and enhanced domestic services in New Zealand, promoting competition amongst golf resorts in Canterbury

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