Studios and whisky for the win

By Paul Taylor

Wanaka’s massive Silverlight Studios is a step closer after the Government agreed to underwrite a $4.5 million loan backing the first phase of the project.

Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan also announced a $2.9 million convertible loan to help Cromwell’s Scapegrace Distillery expand and consolidate its three New Zealand productions sites into one.

Allan says the screen industry, which employs 16,200 New Zealanders and contributes $3.3 billion to the economy every year, is a key component of Central Otago’s economic diversification away from tourism.

The Government has already backed Queenstown’s planned Target3D digital studio with a $2m loan.

• See this month’s Lakes Business (inserted in this week’s Lakes Weekly Bulletin) for more on the Target3D project.

Target3D’s studio will be located in the $45m Remarkables Park Research & Innovation Queenstown facility, itself backed by a $22.5m loan from Government’s shovel ready infrastructure fund.

Both Silverlight Studios and Target 3D are being funded through the $20 million Queenstown Economic Transformation and Resilience Fund (QET), which aims to support established businesses with proposals not related to the tourism sector.

“Silverlight Studios will provide new opportunities for local talent to be at the forefront of an evolving industry in the region,” Allan said. Plans for the $280 million film park studio on 322-hectares of land off the Luggate-Wanaka were given fast-track consent by the Government in December 2021.

It includes 10 sound stages built around a 11-hectare artificial lake, and recreations of areas of Paris, Venice, Italy, New York, and the Hamptons, along with a medieval hall, film school, offices, post-production, sound, visual FX and casting facilities.

But Silverlight Studios chief executive Mike Wallis told Stuff, at the announcement of Government underwriting last week, the company has pivoted to a much smaller initial phase after local concerns over the size and speed of the development.

A digital imaging of Silverlight Studios, although the first phase will be much more modest .

It will instead bring three fast-build modular stages from Belgium, with the work likely completed by this time next year. They will be replaced as the larger facility progresses in the coming years.

Meanwhile, the $2.9m loan through the $200m Regional Strategic Partnership Fund will enable Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand for its whisky, gin and vodka.

The expansion will create 218 jobs in construction and 24 permanent roles once operational. It also aims to reduce emissions through an electrode boiler.

“This investment supports our goal of supporting local businesses to do great things for local economies. The further development of the food and beverage industry in Central Otago will add to the region’s international brand reputation,” Allan.

A $2.9 million Government investment has been approved for the expansion of Scapegrace Distillery in Cromwell, to meet growing national and international demand and consolidate their three New Zealand productions sites into one.

A cellar door closes, a brewery opens

By Jess Allen

Cargo Brewery’s iconic 1894 church in Gibbston Valley will be closing its doors for the last time on the 15th of April. This marks the start of a new chapter for the long-standing establishment as they open a new brewery at their Cargo Gantley’s site; just a wee sprint from the bottom of Coronet Peak.

Since opening in 2018 they’ve played host to an array of events including Fatboy Slim, Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, and Kendall Elise. They’ve also been a popular venue for functions, offer a spot of beer and wine tasting, and have served up countless divine platters.

Cargo Brewery’s owners, Malcom and Meron Blakely, started brewing beers in a garage in Arrowtown before setting up shop at the Waitiri Creek cellar door in Gibbston. They soon learnt all about the wonderful world of wine and developed the site into what we know it as today.

Rachel Pitt is the Event Manager for Cargo and says the team is excited to have a fully-fledged brewery, which is expected to open by the end of this year.

“It wasn’t a decision that was made lightly, but it just seemed like the right time,” says Rachel.

“They’ve had the Cellar Door for about six years now and with the construction starting on the new brew hall that’s going to be in Arthur’s Point behind Cargo Gantley’s, it seemed like the right time to let go of it and focus on the new hall. That’s more Cargo and who we are.”

The team are looking forward to being able to produce more of their core range as well as fresh seasonal beers – they have been a little limited with what they’re currently able to produce. The brew hall will have capacity for up to 200 people once completed and will also be used as a function space. They’d also like to offer somewhere for companies to come and brew their own beers, as an experience.

“There will be 3,600 litre tanks going in, so we’ll definitely be doing some seasonal beers, which will be going straight on the tap at Gantley’s. We’ll have a canning line there as well, so that’ll be great for us to better distribute beer whilst selling it directly from the brewery, which is awesome. I imagine we’ll stick with our core range, which is usually our IPA, Porter and Pale Ale.”

Queenstown’s beer industry and taproom scene is an ever-evolving one, and we’re very fortunate to have a wide selection of breweries on our doorstep. Cargo are excited to put themselves into the mix – expanding on their current offering from their existing venues.

“It’d be great to produce some different things and get back in line with the other breweries in and around Queenstown. It’s pretty exciting,” says Rachel.

As for the Cellar Door, the owners will be taking it back over and everyone’s excited to see what happens with the space.