Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will begin demolition of the house at 516 Ladies Mile, near Queenstown, from next Monday (June 17). 

QLDC paid top dollar - $15.5M - for the property and land in 2019 as a “strategic investment”.

Upper Clutha ratepayers will be partly responsible for funding the purchase, redevelopment and ongoing operations of the property.

Read more: Upper Clutha will help pick up tab for Ladies Mile property

Council said it never intended to reuse the existing 440m2 five-bedroom house, and was only interested in the strategic long-term value of the land adjacent to SH6 between Lake Hayes and Frankton. 

A building report in 2019 - prior to the council making an offer on the property - discovered that parts of the house had moisture levels that meant remediation to cladding would be required. In 2022 architects looking at retro-fitting design options (at the behest of councillors) discovered toxic mould in the house.

Yesterday (Monday June 10) QLDC announced that the house will be demolished by Tuesday July 30, “providing a level platform to enable potential future use by community groups”.

“The property will be used to accommodate the growing need of sport fields and recreational space in the district.”

QLDC sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick said the prohibitive cost of retrofitting the current property and the presence of toxic mould meant that the best course of action was to demolish the building and prepare the site for future community use.

“Clearing 516 Ladies Mile of the current property will enable future community use of the site as part of the overall Ladies Mile Masterplan. As we look to the future, this area will be an important community asset for the growing Queenstown Lakes District,” he said.

The draft Long Term Plan 2024-2034 (LTP), due for consideration by councillors on June 27, includes a proposal to bring forward development of the 516 Ladies Mile site. If approved by councillors, consultation on the draft LTP will run from 28 June – 28 July.