Is Chris Meehan's studio plan at risk from an infrastructure battle with QLDC?
A great idea lacking social licence?
Analysis.
Film industry sources in Queenstown are generally supportive of property developer Chris Meehan’s plans for a $200 million film studio at Ayrburn near Arrowtown.
“Build it and we will come” one local film and TV producer told Crux.
It’s proposed the Ayrburn Screen Hub will include studios and 185 worker accommodation units, on 26 hectares of land between Arrowtown and Queenstown.
But, and its a big but, Mr Meehan says that it’s up to QLDC and local ratepayers to sort out infrastructure problems like the lack of local sewage capacity.
Speaking to Newsroom, Mr Meehan’s position is firm on issues like the sewage crisis at the Shotover wastewater plant. In particular there’s limited sewage pipe capacity between Arrowtown and the Shotover plant, quite apart from problems at the plant itself.
“It just needs a bit of an upgrade. It’s not that complicated to fix.”
Chris Meehan speaking to Newsroom, May 15, 2025.
That view was not shared by QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers, also speaking to Newsroom.
“They can’t force ratepayers to pay for their infrastructure. There’s no way,” says Lewers. “They’re gonna have to do it themselves.”
Glyn Lewers speaking to Newsroom, May 15, 2025.
So, with battle lines apparently drawn, the ball appears to be in Mr Meehan’s court.