Council to consider Conference Centre study

The proposed Conference Centre for Queenstown could move another step closer with the recent feasibility study set to be considered at the full Council meeting in Wanaka on Tuesday 14 August.

The feasibility study, which was undertaken by consulting firm Horwath HTL and WHK Queenstown, outlines the potential economic benefit of such a facility to the wider community and makes recommendations regarding size and content.

Chair of the Conference Centre working party Mayor Vanessa van Uden said the report was part of the wider process of information gathering that had been undertaken and would help inform Council decisions around moving the process forward.

“Should the Council decide to accept the report, we will then consider what steps need to be taken in terms of delegating further tasks to the working party including seeking formal proposals from interested parties and the preparation of business case, which would be further considered by Council,” Mayor van Uden said.

In order to secure financial support from Government, the process had to be as thorough as possible and the working party had received invaluable feedback from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise in terms of deciding the scale of the any potential facility, she said.

“We have been working very closely with the Ministry and their advice has helped frame the size and scope of this project.”

“To bring more conference business here, any centre we build has to meet international standards.”

“It’s not as simple as if we build this they will come, it’s a case of if we build the right sort of facility they will come. We need to get it right the first time and the work that has been undertaken to date will help us achieve this,” Mayor van Uden said.  

Once all the details had been finalised, the project would be opened up for public consultation, she said.

“Although feedback from the community is welcome at any time, the Council would undertake formal consultation should public funds become involved.”