Walt Disney Parks and Resorts today unveiled a scale model of its planned Ko Olina resort that will include 350 hotel rooms and 480 timeshare vacation villas on 21 acres of oceanfront property.

Disney estimates the project, expected to open by late 2011, will create 1,000 new jobs. Plans call for the resort to feature an extensive water play area including a small river, water slides and several pools. The resort will also include a spa, a conference center, a kids' club and a wedding lawn.

Officials from city's Department of Planning and Permitting has been meeting Disney since April on regulatory issues. Currently, the department is processing a mass grading permit application which would allow the site work to begin.

The department said it expects to issue the permit shortly, with grading work to begin in late December or early January. A blessing and ground-breaking ceremony is planned for later this year.

"This unique project should help boost our economy and provide jobs that are badly needed, especially in the Leeward area," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "I was confident that Disney would create many new opportunities and become a respected and contributing member of our community."