Please share Serpie. Looks to me like the residents will have all the space of a lifestyle block without the hassles. What will be the critical mass kickstart? The school is only a few pupils away from applying to treasury to move to Pegasus, that could be a bit of a boost, but maybe not enough. If I was the developer I'd be subsidising some families to move their kids to the area.
The Rolleston comparison seems a bit harsh - walking to the prison is not everyones cup of tea. Having a lake, beach, golfcourse, wetland etc within walking distance should appeal more. If I was a retired Cantabrian I'd think about the attractions (perhaps an old folks home is whats really needed). There are enough attractions there to be entertained and attract the kids and grandkids for a visit. If the heated pools and playground get built, even more so.
I'd be tempted to buy a section for around $40k....