Shotover Country pursues retirement village operator

Shotover Country is actively pursuing an operator for a retirement village, in a bid to enable long term Wakatipu residents to remain in the district, rather than being forced to relocate to other areas.

A 3.9ha site in the new residential subdivision, set aside for a retirement village, has been under offer to a New Zealand company with a track record for providing boutique retirement living. However, according to Shotover Country directors Sharyn and Grant Stalker, the company’s principal is suffering ill health and has had to review his commitments.

"While this is obviously disappointing we are hopeful that other suitable operators will approach us with a view to establishing the Wakatipu’s first retirement village," says Sharyn. "We remain committed to the concept and want to assure the many people who have contacted us that we are continuing to drive the proposal."

More than 50 people are already on the Shotover Country database indicating they would sign up for a place in a retirement village at the earliest opportunity.

"We have had these approaches, with no advertising, which leads us to suspect there is a strong, unsatisfied demand out there. In particular, people are hoping for a facility, which would not only provide a retirement lifestyle, but would also include dementia and hospital facilities."

Shotover Country believes the concept is exciting and hopes "potential operators will also find it exciting and approach us."

"Locally there are also several people who have signified their interest in investing in a village at Shotover Country," says Sharyn, "and we are able to provide their details to an operator showing serious interest in the project."

Shotover Country believes Queenstown has waited a long time for a retirement village and the company will do all it can to facilitate a superior facility.

"We are aware that there are a lot of people waiting for something to happen and it has been a long time coming with earlier proposals for the district never getting past first base. While Shotover Country is the land developer, and not a retirement village operator, we do plan to spearhead the venture as much as possible and look forward to genuine approaches from interested operators."