|
 |
Conference call: Queenstown mayor Vanessa van Uden
|
Potential partners have been given two and a half months to put forward Queenstown conference centre proposals.
A working party chaired by Queenstown mayor Vanessa van Uden has launched a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to construct, manage and operate a 750-800 person centre.
Van Uden says the working party wants full proposals submitted by December 7.
“We’re seeking proposals that incorporate an identified location, an appropriate design, effective operational, management and governance arrangements and, importantly, creative and innovative funding solutions,” she says.
“We know from the work we’ve done so far that there are a number of parties locally who have the capability to come up with a world class proposition.
”There will also be interest from companies and organisations outside the district.
“If this project goes ahead, we want to ensure that we’re building a hi-tech, modern conference centre that will represent Queenstown Lakes, the South Island and New Zealand to an international audience and that will also make our ratepayers proud.”
A feasibility study commissioned by Van Uden’s working party costed a 750-person centre at $43 million.
Since then, Queenstown architectural designer Murray Bennett has submitted a vision for an 1100-person centre on the Gorge Road carpark site at the edge of the Recreation Ground.
Bennett has said his vision falls within the $43 million project cost in the Horwath study.
Meanwhile, retired local businessman Lew Gdanitz has called for a stopgap centre – seating up to 2000 and costing $3.8 million to $5m – to be put up out at the Events Centre in Frankton.
|
Your say
There are no comments on this article.
Have your say
You will need to register or login before you can post a comment.
