Prominent land developer and Willowridge director Alan Dippie says architecture plans are nearly finished and several vendors, who cannot be named, will be setting up at Three Parks in no time.
Ruby’s Cinema, which has existed for 15 years in Wānaka itself, would be relocated to the "new town square", after it closed tomorrow, he said.
"We’re not closing down; we are going into hibernation. We’re going to build a new Ruby’s," Mr Dippie said.
"We need to make it a bit bigger and have a few more screens. We will probably make it a three-screener."
Mr Dippie envisioned a new town square alternative to Wānaka central and said it would include everything you needed, without having to go into town.
It would be built directly in front of the Mitre 10 Mega and near the upcoming Woolworths supermarket — the second of two supermarkets at Three Parks.
Asked if there was room for McDonald’s, which had its resource consent application turned down and was overwhelmingly opposed last month, he said it was not on the cards.
"I don’t think so. Don’t talk to me about that, I keep getting dragged into it. It’s nothing to do with me."
Last month Mr Dippie told the Otago Daily Times McDonald’s would be welcome but had not heard from the food giant.
The consent application was declined as commissioners said McDonald’s would be "contrary to the overall consideration of the objectives and policies of the operative and proposed district plan".
The application attracted more than 350 submitters — 90% of whom were against the proposal.
The adverse effects on the environment were said to be more than minor on the approach to Wānaka, the landscape character and the visual amenity values of Mt Iron.
McDonald’s said last month it would review the decision, discuss it with the developer and consider next steps regarding that site. Its intention remained "to open a restaurant in Wānaka, navigating some of the local commercial interests at play".
Over the past four years, Three Parks has seen rapid development, with the addition of New World, The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, a gym, and several other retailers.
Mr Dippie said he was planning on holding a locals’ produce market at Three Parks, comparing it to the Otago Farmers Market in Dunedin.
He said he hoped Wānaka could replicate something similar.
"It’s going to be the town square, yes."
"I just want something where local organisations and groups can go and make a regular market on a Saturday. We could have it slightly covered so it is weatherproof."
Mr Dippie said with the pace the wider area was growing, it needed to offer more for locals, including a place to socialise outside of the busy town centre.
— Olivia Caldwell
