The Wakatipu area office of the Department of Conservation is moving house from central Queenstown to the Morning Star Beach Recreation Reserve at Arthurs Point, although the Queenstown regional visitor centre and Glenorchy field office are staying put.
Yesterday, Doc announced it had bought the property from a private owner for $1.9 million after six months of negotiation.
The area office on Shotover St and workshop on Industrial Pl would be under one roof by the end of April 2009.
The building, known as Cavells, was on public land already administered by Doc and had housed Shotover Jet's administration offices and Queenstown Rafting's operational base.
The Shotover Jet, Queenstown Rafting operation and the Rapid Cafe would remain and pay rent to the department which would offset the purchase costs.
Wakatipu area manager Greg Lind said there would be a refit of the building, a new workshop built and landscaping works in a $400,000 programme over the spring and summer.
About 10 Doc office staff plus five office and field staff would operate from the building's top floor and another five field staff would use it as their base.
"A long-term revegetation plan is also being drawn up. It is planned that, over time, exotic species will be removed and replaced with appropriate native species.
"It will restore much of the natural vegetation and birdlife to the local area."
Mr Lind said new walking tracks would be developed, suitable for dogs on a lead, from the Atley Downs terrace down into the Shotover and back along the river to a new car park at the entrance to the reserve.
Other planned developments included bringing to life the history of old goldmining sites in the area.
Mr Lind said there would be no increase in noise.
"Our field operations, such as helicopter movements for hut work, are all staged from locations much closer to our actual work sites."
Mr Lind said Arthurs Point residents were invited to visit Doc staff on site at the new building from 6pm to 7pm on Monday to view plans.
