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Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Congestion-busting contenders
Doppelmayr NZ's Garreth Hayman. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Two fully electric aerial transportation system providers pitched themselves as solutions to Queenstown's chronic traffic congestion problems at this week's Electrify Queenstown event. They're Queenstown Cable Car, which could ferry up to 3000 passengers an hour, in both directions, between the CBD and the airport via Queenstown Hill and Frankton. The other's Whoosh's 'Uber in the sky' which is about to be demo-ed at Remarkables Park. Doppelmayr NZ CEO Garreth Hayman, who's working with local tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and former Infrastructure Commission chief executive Ross Copland, says "the big difference is we are a mass transit solution versus they are an equivalent of an Uber, if you like, in terms of calling up a taxi". "They will probably feed into the gondola system, it would make sense for them to do that, and it's just like the [public] bus [network] is feeding into the system well." However, Whoosh chief executive Dr Chris Allington tells Scene their system has many advantages over a gondola system. It could disperse its users across a greater number of smaller stations, avoiding likely queues at peak times with the gondola system's fewer, larger stations, he says. Its modular system allowed it to be expanded as demand required. "You're no longer stuck with straight lines and a limited number of stops."
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
'Flying theatre' thrill ride planned for Queenstown
An approved design for a flying theatre on Brecon St. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A theatre-style thrill ride is being developed for a newly consented complex in central Queenstown. Australian-based Upper Village Holdings is establishing a "flying theatre" in a three-level building on the corner of Brecon and Isle Sts — the company also developed the Upper Village entertainment precinct further up Brecon St. The development will replace two established houses on Brecon St. The resource consent refers to "an 'immersive theatre experience' involving a simulator-type ride". There's soaring demand for flying theatres — using motion-based platforms and large, curved screens to simulate the sensation of flight — in theme parks and other venues overseas, though it's thought this will be the first of its type in New Zealand. The building replaces these two established houses. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER According to the resource consent application — the developer's refusing to comment at this stage — customers will first view a seven-minute "preshow", which will include a safety induction. They'll then continue in the theatre room, where the main show will also last seven minutes, during which there'll be noise from amplified speakers. "The theatre room will make up approximately half of the building itself spanning all three levels with seats at each level," the application states. Each viewing session will have a maximum 60 patrons, and the hours of operation will be 9am till 9pm seven days a week. The building design, by Warren and Mahoney Architects, doesn't have any windows or openings along Brecon St. However, interest will be created by patterned aggregate and copper fins along the facade. The glazed entrance is off Isle St and its corner with Brecon St.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Wahlburgers gone burgers
The Queenstown Wahlburgers is now closed. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Opened with great fanfare 18 months ago, Queenstown's Wahlburgers — part of a burger chain created by Hollywood A-lister Mark Wahlberg — has quietly shut up shop. The restaurant, now advertised for lease, was on the ground floor of the Upper Village entertainment precinct, below the Skyline gondola, which originally opened for business in late 2021. Promoting itself as North America's fastest-growing burger chain, the Queenstown franchise was its 112th store and the second in New Zealand after Auckland premises opened eight months earlier. At the time, Wahlberg stated: "The opening of our store in the adventure capital of the world is something we are immensely proud of, and I am looking forward to seeing it in person." The restaurant — notable for Wahlberg movie and family memorabilia on the walls — was operated by the Mustaca family, who founded Australian cinema chain United Cinemas. Also closed is Wahlburgers' ground-floor neighbour, chocolate bar Max Brenner, which opened in June 2022, while a large tenancy above, originally occupied by The Bavarian restaurant, is being converted into workers' housing. — Philip Chandler
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Clubhouse funding shortfall
Whakatipu Rowing Club's almost-completed two-level clubhouse overlooking Lake Hayes. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Whakatipu Rowing Club's $800,000 clubhouse redevelopment project has struck some ripples. The club, in the final throes of replacing its Lake Hayes rowing shed with a two-level facility including upstairs meeting room, kitchen and viewing balcony, needs about $150,000 more to complete the project, despite having had a huge amount of community support already. President Amy Wilson-White explains the shortfall's caused by two factors. The first is extra costs incurred for an accessible carpark and ramp, fire egress at the end of the balcony and unexpected costs to stabilise the foundations. "Those things have added at least $100,000 to the bill," she says. The second factor is a couple of funding blows. They'd confidently asked for $200,000 from Lottery Grants Board, only to receive nothing, and had asked for $75,000 from Community Trust South, but only received $10,000. To make up the shortfall, Wilson-White says any funding would be welcome, such a 'buy a brick' donation in return for permanent recognition on the building. She thinks many businesses might like to book the venue for workshops and corporate team building — there's capacity for 125 people. "I would argue it's the best view in Queenstown, it's brand new and it's something different." She's also appealing for any builder with spare time on their hands who'd like to help out — Lakes Building Co, for example, recently contributed two weeks' voluntary labour in a break between jobs. Wilson-White says completion's due late next month or July — "we're not that far behind schedule". Meanwhile, two Wakatipu High rowers who won each won two golds at the Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta in March have won national selection. Seb Watson's in a New Zealand development team going to the United States in July and Harry Lightfoot's competing for NZ at the under-19 World Cup in Lithuania in August.
