The Gordon Family Trust has formed a joint venture partnership with Dunedin businessmen Ron Anderson and Bob Foster, and Auckland chartered accountant Aaron Armstrong.
Mr Anderson and Mr Foster are the directors of Arrow International Ltd, a multinational company with about 180 staff employed across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, with significant interests and experience in the retirement village industry.
The partnership expects construction to start next year on the Gordons' planned Wanaka Retirement Village, which includes 110 residential units, a 46-unit apartment block, a private hospital and dementia unit, and a medical centre.
The Gordons were granted land-use consent in February for the development on 13.148ha site on the corner of Cardrona Valley Rd and Golf Course Rd.
Mr Gordon said the group was mindful of the economic difficulties New Zealand and the rest of the world were experiencing.
"We are expecting a downturn in the domestic house market to affect our initial sales," Mr Gordon said.
The forecast downturn was factored into long-term business projections and the group intended to proceed with the development over 10 years.
"We'll proceed with each stage as we sell each block of villas," he said.
The planned private hospital and dementia unit "at this stage" might be owned by the joint venture and managed by a health company.
It had taken almost a year of "frustration" to find the right business partner, but the Gordons said the delay was "worth the wait".
Mr Gordon was aware of the possible competing retirement developments in Wanaka.
He said the Wanaka Retirement Village and healthcare facilities would complement the existing Elmslie House rest-home and new complex planned by Presbyterian Support Otago.
However, the proposed 97-unit retirement village by Stoney Creek Village Ltd (SCVL) would be in direct competition, "should it gain consent".
The Gordons hoped to have their development "well under way" regardless of the Stoney Creek outcome.
•The proposed Stoney Creek development on Mt Aspiring Rd has rankled a group of neighbouring suburban residents in Stoney Creek.
Public submissions on the notified resource consent application closed on December 18.
A Lakes Environment spokeswoman said information about the submission process would not be available until after January 12.
Wanaka retirement resort
-Three different retirement villages are pushing ahead with construction plans. -Wanaka Retirement Village: Developers Peter and Dee Gordon, Ron Anderson, Bob Foster and Aaron Armstrong are ready to construct 110 residential units, a 46-unit apartment block, hospital and medical centre.
-Presbyterian Support Otago: Ready to build a 24-unit apartment complex of single- and two-bedroom units alongside their existing Elmslie House rest-home in Meadowstone.
-Stoney Creek Village Ltd: Has applied for resource consent to build a 97-unit complex, consisting of 10 apartment blocks and community facilities alongside Stoney Creek in Meadowstone. The development faces stiff opposition from neighbours.
