Three-storey, 50-room hotel planned for Canterbury's Pegasus Golf Course

Thursday, 25 July 2019

The developer's vision for Pegasus was to create a new town where lifestyle was key, with a lake, school, golf course, equestrian centre and hotel and conference facilities.

The North Canterbury township of Pegasus may soon boast a new 50-room hotel and conference facility.

Pegasus Golf Ltd has applied to the Waimakariri District Council for resource consent to build a three-storey hotel with conference centre and restaurant.

A proposed hotel for Pegasus, in North Canterbury, will include 50 rooms, a restaurant and a conference centre.

The development would be located on three vacant lots on Taerutu Lane, to the northwest of the golf club's existing buildings.

There are also plans for a separate golf lodge on a vacant site opposite, although this is subject to its own resource consent application.

Todd Property Group bought the unsold land, golf course, and community areas of the partly developed township in 2012 after Pegasus Town Ltd was placed in receivership.

* Opinion: Pegasus - a 'vibrant village' where people know nature and their neighbours**

The golf club and course was bought by Pegasus Golf Ltd, owned by Sports and Education Corporation Ltd, in September 2017 and the new owners are looking at several ways to boost the club, including the proposed hotel complex.

Other initiatives include hosting the recent PGA tournament in March, while opportunities for hosting international players and establishing a golf training school are also being explored. The course hosted the New Zealand Women's Open for several years.

Pegasus Town Ltd and Infinity Group were founded by Wanaka-based property developer Bob Robertson, who died in 2014. His vision was to create a new town where lifestyle was key, with a lake, school, golf course, equestrian centre and hotel and conference facilities all part of the big picture.

Todd Property Group bought the unsold land, golf course, and community areas of the partly developed township in 2012 after Pegasus Town Ltd was placed in receivership.

Pegasus Bay School opened in 2014, but some other commercial plans have not come to fruition.

Pegasus Residents Group Inc (PRGI) president Roger Rule said the group was pleased to see plans for a hotel in the town finally reach the consent phase. The committee had been presented an overview of the plans and members were looking forward to Pegasus achieve some aspects of Robertson's vision for the town.

Feedback from residents had been generally favourable with many liking the idea of something to attract more visitors to the town and support local businesses and attractions.

Rule said it was also pleasing to see from a community perspective that affected neighbours and local rūnanga had been consulted.

Submissions on the application close at 5pm on August 16.