Silverlight Studios has been granted an extra five years to ‘give effect’ to both its film park and the workers’ accommodation the company plans to build on its 332ha site near Wānaka Airport. 

When the film park project was approved in December 2021 under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act, decision documents suggested the project would move quickly. 

Bulk earthworks could begin in 2022, those documents said, while construction of sound stages, an ‘Italian village’ and a ‘seaside village' could take place in 2023, with the Paris replica set to be built in 2024.

Two years later, with no signs of construction on-site, Silverlight Studios has secured extensions until March 2029.

The extension applies to both the film park (55ha of development featuring studios, production offices, a film school, a screening theatre, and an exhibition centre) and the 300 residential units for workers’ accommodation.

Fast-track consents have a default duration to lapse within two years, but local councils can grant extension periods.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) resource consents manager Fiona Blight said the company had made “substantial progress” on the film park.

The company has completed detailed design work for some of the sound stage buildings and sets and bulk earthworks, prepared environmental management plans for earthworks, liaised with QLDC’s building department and finance department, and undertaken geotechnical investigations, she said.

It has also had discussions with construction companies for the project.

The film park could cost as much as $280M to construct. 

Silverlight Studios was approached for comment.

IMAGE: Silverlight Studios