Speaking on behalf of the wine company, Tom Pinckney told the Central Otago District Council's hearings panel yesterday developing the winery was the "next logical step".
The Pinckneys bought Northburn Station, northeast of Cromwell, in 1993 and run merino sheep and cattle on the 13,500ha property. They diversified into grapes in 1999 and opened The Shed cellar door and function centre on the property in 2008.
The winery building is a permitted activity under the district plan but resource consent is needed for the building platform, as it is within the Northburn landslip area.
A 10-year consent is sought, as the development will be done in stages.
Council planning consultant David Whitney said a geotechnical report on the area said there was no evidence of landslip movement during or after the filling of Lake Dunstan.
There was no evidence of slope stability issues, the "inactive" slip was not considered a risk to the building site and construction was not expected to have any effect on the slip's stability.
He recommended the council grant a 10-year consent.
Mr Pinckney said the winery would initially be built to cater for 100-120 tonnes of grapes and would be extended at some time in the future to cater for up to 300 tonnes.
"I don't know when that time will be."
He was confident the 300-tonne capacity would be adequate in the future.
After the meeting, Mr Pinckney told the Otago Daily Times the winery was a "million-dollar project".
"It will be done in stages and we're still working out the timing, based on the building costs, and our own wine requirements."
If consent was granted for the building platform, he hoped the first stage of the winery, to 120-tonne capacity, would be completed within a year or two.
The facility would cater for other growers' grapes as well as Northburn's.
"It does show we have faith in the Central Otago wine industry and we've always said we're here for the long term."
The hearings panel reserved its decision.
