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November, 2017 Construction of Queenstowns long-delayed $20 million Frankton marinahas finally begun. Lakes Marina Projects (LMP) is creating 187 floating berths, 17 floating sheds, four other structures, a breakwater and a 156-space carpark. The development follows an agreement with the landholder, the Queenstown Lakes District Council. Mayor Jim Boult says: This is a huge milestone for this long-awaited project and the wider Queenstown community. As a past boatie and the owner of a berth in the ill-fated earlier marina, Im delighted to see this well-planned development pro-ceed. In my view, boat owners district-wide will applaud this development loudly. The first stage, comprising 80 to 90 berths and all the other facilities, will be completed in 12 to 18 months. Work began on site this month. LMP is 90 per cent owned by Iranian-born entrepreneurs, brothers Iraj and Nasser Barabi, from Californias Silicon Valley, and 10 per cent by local boatie Alan Kirker. Nasser believes the resort will benefit from having a messy area by the main entranceway tidied up. Besides opening up amazing views, he says therell be many spin-offs from making Lake Wakatipu more attractive for boaties. LMPs leasing the berths, ranging from eight to 18 metres long, for a minimum of about $8000 a year. Kirker says hes had enquiries from all over were talking Hong Kong, England, Switzerland. One Aussie boatie wants a timeframe so he can get his boat built. His companys also leasing floating offices for cafes and marina- compatible businesses. Nasser says the boardwalk they front on to, running parallel to Sugar Lane and the Frankton Track, will be world-class. Youve never seen anything like it before. He believes the marina environment will attract locals wanting to escape the busy downtown. Nasser and Iraj already own several local properties. Nasser, who owns Earnslaw Lodge with his wife, also this month saw the completion of a Frankton Flats manufacturing building. Itll be used by the brothers US company, Essai Inc, which services semiconductor and electronic consumer companies. Meanwhile, most of the marinas physical works wont start till late February, after the busy summer holidays. Kirker, whose father co-instigated the Te Anau marina in the early 60s, says theres no concern that strong winds, which destroyed an earlier floating marina, will be a problem. Its all on telescopic piles, and its been designed for the westerly and the southerly. Source: Mountain Scene
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