A representative for a proposed ‘health hub’ in Wānaka shared plans for the project at a health services meeting on Wednesday night (March 20).

James Reid said the resource consent application for the project was lodged a few days ago and conversations had already begun with potential tenants, including a day surgery.

“We think instead of spreading health services across Wānaka it makes sense to have a centralised hub that can serve that purpose,” James said.

He did not specify whether the services would be entirely private or would include private/public partnerships.

The development would consist of three building blocks comprising around 3,700m2 and discussions with potential tenants have already begun, a representative said.

If approved, the hub would be located on Cardrona Valley Road next to the Wānaka Lakes Health Centre with the Aspiring Enliven Care Centre just beyond it.

The location is a “common sense” one, James said.

James said he represented the Gordon family, which is involved in aged care services in Wānaka.

“We want to develop health services in the Upper Clutha region with a focus on medium to long term,” he said.

The subject site, in green, is next to the Wānaka Lakes Health Centre and near Aspiring Enliven Care Centre and Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village.

“I would love to think that down the track the Gordon family could also be involved in a satellite, small hospital that can assist Dunstan [Hospital].”

Resource consent application documents say the development would consist of three building blocks totalling around 3,700 m2 “for a comprehensive complex of health care facilities, commercial and retail and /or office activities”.

Each building would contain a range of activities including healthcare and day surgery “with these two activities making up the larger individual tenancies,” the application said.

The site (45 Cardrona Valley Road) is split between Local Shopping Centre Zone (LSCZ) and Lower Density Suburban Residential Zone (LDSRZ) and the proposal seeks to develop only the LSCZ portion.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is currently vetting the application.

PHOTOS/IMAGES: QLDC Edocs/Supplied