Coronet Village battle lines drawn as fast track rules are defined

We speak to Paul Anderson and James Hall

There’s a pregnant pause in the fight over plans for a new gondola and 780 home residential development at the foot of Coronet Peak. The pause is due to all parties - for and against - waiting for clarity and detail over the fast track status that the joint projects have been granted.

‘Coronet Village’ has been put forward via the controversial fast track process by Ben Farrell (town planner and sole shareholder in the newly formed “Coronet Village Ltd”) alongside Bernard Cleary, Rod Drury, and NZ Ski.

Project backers says it environmental, good for the economy and will provide vital houses and schools. Opponents claim the Coronet Gondola is being used to greenwash what otherwise would be just a huge property development.

We spoke to Paul Anderson, CEO of NZ Ski and to James Hall, Chairman of the Malaghans Valley Protection Society.

Paul Anderson, CEO, NZ Ski.

Paul Anderson: “The project was submitted for fast track approval as a whole project, so it included the village and the gondola. Our interest is primarily the gondola and the ecological work and the mountain biking tracks. What we don't know is that if we separated the gondola development from the village, would it still be eligible for fast track approval?

“We're talking to a range of interested stakeholders. Obviously the Malaghans Valley Protection Society, Soho property, the QEII National Trust and other community members.”