A Central Otago businessman is behind a proposal valued at between $30 million and $35 million to develop Kaikoura's fishing wharf area into a hotel, restaurant, conference and retail precinct.
The proposal includes 84 fully furnished hotel rooms, 32 privately owned units and also 108 backpackers' beds.
Kaikoura Wharf Developments Ltd, whose sole director and shareholder is George Collier, of Alexandra, is looking for developer and investor interest for the almost 1ha site, and has resource consent, wharf leases, concept plans and designs, which include the existing Pier Hotel and fishing wharf.
Dunedin businessman Mike Coburn, spokesman for Kaikoura Wharf Developments, said Mr Collier was looking for investment partners, saying that with additional tourism operations the entire project could cost up to $35 million.
"It's been several years in the making, gaining a lease to the wharf and getting the resource consents in place," he said when contacted yesterday.
While "ideally" the project could be undertaken to construct in its entirety, it could also be "staged", with revenue coming from each completed section, he said.
Commercial project manager for Kaikoura Wharf Developments Stuart Chadwick said, referring to the 84 hotel rooms with uninterrupted sea views, 62 were incorporated in the core building while 22 were extended along the first floor of the wharf. Below at ground level would be an array of retail space, including bars, restaurants and a fish market.
"If you think of Fleur's at Moeraki, Fisherman's Wharf at San Francisco or Sydney's Darling Harbour, then you will understand the concept," Mr Chadwick said.
The Pier Hotel would be revamped and internally retrofitted as a modern backpacker lodge, which along with a new bunkhouse, would provide cheap accommodation and up to 108 beds.
The 32 privately owned Pier Apartments ranged from individual double bedroom with en suite to three-bedroom unit with large lounge, dining room and kitchen.
Kaikoura township, 2km away, had 850,000-plus visitors a year. Only 350,000 of those visitors stayed overnight.
Mr Chadwick said there was strong interest from hotel chains in the Wharf Hotel and Pier Apartments, from tourism and retail operators looking for space, and from groups looking at the whole complex.
