We speak with Jared Baronian (CEO of the Sanderson Group & Queenstown Commercial Limited) to share his insights into the progress of Kawarau Heights. Jared provides an update on the timeline for the highly anticipated launch of stage one sections and announces a limited release of design & build homes for the development.

1. What makes Kawarau Heights such a special development?

Kawarau Heights is a magical location with 360 degrees views of all the famous big peaks, The Crown Range, Cardona, Coronet Peak, and The Remarkables. Every section is flat and 100% useable. You really are living up in the mountains when your backdoor opens to tussock covered knolls bordering the site.

I’ve been onsite a lot over winter. I think people will appreciate the opportunity to build for indoor/outdoor living (which my family loves). It is possible all year round with the all-day sunshine providing incredible warmth, and the surrounding hills giving wind protection.

When I fly into Queenstown it’s a quick 8-minute drive before I’m at Kawarau Park. We often duck across to Arrowtown which is only 10 minutes away. Some days we even catch a quick ski in the morning before being back at the office by midday. The bike ride to Arrowtown or out past the Kawarau Bungy Bridge to the Gibbston Valley is one of my favourites.

Kawarau Heights is a very special place and with only 100 lots available it’s also a very limited opportunity.

2. At what stage is the development at?

Progress by our constructions teams over winter has been incredible, I’m very impressed. These guys really have done a great job to ensure the development will be finished by May 2022. All of the water and utility services have now been installed in the main internal roads. Roading will be sealed up through the entrance to Lot 17 by late November with work continuing on from this until the full site is complete in May.

3. What is the timeline that QCL are working to for the sales launch?

We want to present the site in the best condition with sections complete and landscaped. We don’t anticipate going to market before January 2022.

4. How will the sections be priced and sold?

Every detail has been considered to create a high-quality premium environment including our Sanderson kerbing profile, exposed footpaths, streetlights, the grand entrance walls, and the Boffa Miskell designed landscape. Fraser and Donna Sanderson have even hand-selected cobbles from France which will form feature road crossings.

Land in Queenstown is scarce, only a handful of sections are sold each month, and large sections with low-density developments like Kawarau Park are now rare. These sites can only be sold once and our sales process will include a range of sales methods including non-priced methods (e.g. Auction). We expect pricing to reflect the premium level of this development, its location, and natural elevated plateau where it is placed. We have been inundated with registrations of interest for the 100 sections so we anticipate that this will be reflected in strong demand for each stage release.

Queenstown is the Switzerland or Aspen of the southern hemisphere and interest is coming from far and wide.

5. Are titles still on track for March 2022?

There is a chance that issue of the first titles could slip into April but otherwise, we are on track for late March 2022. When the first 30 lots (entranceway up to lot 17) are complete before Christmas, we work through a process to sign off all the engineering work, complete the final survey and pegging, and then lodge for title. So when you come onsite early in the 2022 new year and see all the roading and sections complete, our team are still working hard through the final process before title is issued.

6. Does the development have Resource Consent?

Resource Consent was issued on Friday, 15 October 2021. There is nothing unexpected in the resource consent issued or timing associated with this process. Land development is a complex process from planning, design and engineering, and then civil works, roading and infrastructure construction. We have the best people working with us to deliver this project and they are doing an awesome job.

7. Will QCL be building any homes at Kawarau Heights?

We want to set the highest standard of design and build at Kawarau Heights. We come from a building and construction background of luxury developments so this is important to us. Protecting the future value for anyone who buys into Kawarau Heights is a key consideration for us. We felt the best way to ensure this and demonstrate our design guideline requirements was to deliver a number of homes across the site. This will suit some buyers who want to live at Kawarau Heights but are unsure or not comfortable with the build process. For those who buy a section, it will give them better direction on what is expected from the design guidelines. The homes we deliver will include a mix of architecturally designed pavilions (single, double and triple) and modern flat roof homes. If you are interested in one of our design & build homes please fill in our registration form below or click the “enquire now” button.

8. What is proposed for the design guidelines and land covenants?

Design Guidelines, Land Covenants, as well as the Sales and Purchase Agreement, will be released in early 2022. These will reflect the premium boutique nature of this development and will help maintain a high standard of architecturally designed homes, high-quality use of materials, and landscaping. To help ensure Kawarau Heights is a liveable community for its residents, home and income properties (properties with a primary and secondary dwelling e.g. flat or unit that is rented) will not be allowed. Other conditions will be applied such as no further subdivision of the large-sized lots. The large-sized sections at Kawarau Heights will create open space and provide a park-like feel which needs to be preserved. We also want to assure anyone who buys a section can be confident that their neighbour won’t split the adjoining sections up and that open space is maintained.

9. When will the bars & restaurant, convenience store and other amenity that QCL are developing at Kawarau Park be open?

Another great thing I love about Kawarau Heights is what Fraser and Donna have done at their Kawarau Park development, which is only a brief stroll away. Kawarau Park provides all the retail and medical amenities you will need including Franks Eatery (cafe, bar, restaurant), Night’n’Day (small format grocery/convenience) and hair solon. This precinct is also home to the new Southern Cross Hospital, Pacific Radiology, a Pharmacy, a Medical Centre, and various medical specialists.

Kawarau Park has been architecturally designed by Warren Mahoney and the backdrop of these buildings against the surrounding big peaks is stunning. All these businesses will be open by January 2022.

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