A $4 million heritage farm show and museum based at the Cromwell racecourse should be in operation by September next year, in time to cater for the influx of visitors expected at the Rugby World Cup.
Lester Rowntree, of Motueka, has been granted resource consent by the Central Otago District Council to proceed with the tourism venture, subject to 31 conditions.
When approached by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Mr Rowntree had yet to see the decision by the independent commissioner, Denis Nugent, appointed by the council, but was pleased to get approval for the venture.
"There's a lot of work to do to the site before it gets up and running.
"For one thing, we'll need to get grass growing for the stock and that takes time.
"You can't hurry that along," he said.
Work on buildings was likely to start in December.
The main arena building, with seating for 700 spectators, will cost more than $2 million to construct.
Mr Rowntree said he would keep 51% of the company but was hoping locals might be keen to invest.
"I wouldn't really want Aucklanders or foreigners involved, but it would be good if some Central Otago people invested."
However, the venture was unlikely to be delayed by a lack of finance, he said.
Cromwell was the perfect location for the complex and he hoped it would be in operation before this country hosted the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The business would be open every day of the year, from 9am to 6pm, and would employ at least 10 staff, he said.
Based on the Agridome at Rotorua, he expected the visitor numbers to the heritage farm show and museum to be up to 1000 people a day at peak times.
The racecourse is designated as recreation reserve by the council and Mr Rowntree has a lease for 5.4ha of the land.
Mr Nugent said the uniqueness of the proposal, within Central Otago, would add to the overall attractiveness of the area for tourists.
The activity was essentially rural in character, and the scale and bulk of the building and windmill planned for the site, would have only a minor impact on the landscape, he said.
The conditions relate to the height, style and colour of the buildings on site, the goods that can be sold at the souvenir shop, the access to the site, the signs and parking.
New Zealand Heritage Farm Show
• Based at Cromwell Racecourse.
• Tourism business based on early days of farming.
• Estimated to cost about $4 million to set up.
• Expected to attract up to 1000 visitors a day.
• Farrier, saddler, wheelwright and blacksmith on site.
• Will feature demonstrations by Clydesdale horses and bullock teams.
• Displays of flax milling, rope making and flour milling.
• Museum for horse-drawn vehicles, machinery and rural artefacts.
• Should be in operation by September next year.
