QLDC seeks investors for two new parking buildings

THE Queenstown Lakes District Council is looking for private investors to help fund two proposed parking buildings, estimated to cost about $44 million.

Parking facilities mooted in the council’s longterm plan include a new 242space parking building at the existing Boundary St park at a cost of $18.3 million and a 350space building on the Ballarat St site, to cost about $25.8 million.

Also proposed was a $3.9 million parking management system for the buildings.

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said there was community support for the council to ‘‘get on with delivering’’ the Queenstown town centre masterplan, in which parking solutions formed an integral part of the infrastructure development programme, and the council was now looking to partner with the private sector to achieve that.

‘‘We’ve taken on board a number of submissions received via the 10year plan process suggesting there may be a preference for alternative investment models for car parking.

‘‘Now that we’ve completed a detailed business case for the two proposed facilities, we’d like to explore options for a possible private partnership.’’

Council property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby said a ‘‘registration of interest’’ would be released today to gauge interest from the private sector on either partnering with the council, or providing alternative parking solutions.