Gondola to Qtown airport?

A gondola or light rail network could be created to connect central Queenstown with its airport.

The alternative transport ideas were suggested as part of a ‘‘spatial framework’’ for the town’s $385 million masterplan, to be discussed at the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) meeting yesterday.

The document said while building a gondola was not a preferred option in the town’s masterplan, it could ease congestion and support large volumes of traffic.

It would likely start at the intersection of Stanley and Shotover streets, and end at Queenstown Airport about 8 kilometres away.

Queenstown Airport property and planning general manager Rachel Tregidga said it was working with the QLDC, the Otago Regional Council, and the NZ Transport Agency on wider transport initiatives for the popular tourist spot.

‘‘We’re very supportive of any mass transit options that assist residents and visitors to travel to their destinations easily and efficiently and welcome the collaboration, big-picture thinking and forward planning of council and other agencies in working on long-term solutions for the district,’’ she said.

A new $140m bypass, six new car parking lots, an improved cycleway connection, a new ferry stop and a ‘‘park and ride’’ facility were also suggested as options for dealing with growing traffic.

The bypass would give motorists a quicker route between One Mile, Gorge Rd and Melbourne St, as the current arterial route through Stanley and Shotover streets was already at capacity during peak hours, the document says.

Previously known as Inner Links, the bypass had been mooted for many years, but no decisions on whether it should proceed had been made.