Light on the horizon for frozen Queenstown
It’s looking like a tough winter for Queenstown but there’s a glimmer of light after the Government announced an $85 million injection for its fragile Covid-hit economy.
The resort town has been particularly hard hit by the dearth of international tourists since New Zealand’s borders were closed to visitors three months ago. Locals and business leaders alike have accused the Government of overlooking its plight.
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was at Cardrona and in Queenstown yesterday with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis to reveal the Government would give $35m to the Queenstown Town Centre project and $50m for stage one of the Queenstown Arterials project. They said the projects would “help ensure the construction sector does not suffer the same negative consequences as the tourism sector”.
The $57m town centre project includes street-scaping works, cycle and walkways and is expected to create about 130 jobs. Construction is expected to begin within three months and take about a year to complete. The Queenstown Lakes District Council will stump up the other $22m.
The funding towards the arterials project will cover the full cost of the first stage and consents could be fast-tracked to get the project under way within 12 months.
Ardern said before Covid-19 the district’s GDP was about $3 billion and the local economy was growing at more than twice the rate of the national economy.
“This stunning town is an internationally renowned tourism attraction and unfortunately the local economy is experiencing a major downturn as a result of Covid-19.”
The Government said its partnership with Queenstown on the two construction projects would unlock about $300m of projects in the town and create about 320 direct jobs.
“This is vitally important because the sector is the second largest contributor to Queenstown Lakes’ economic growth, employing about 4300 people, or approximately 14 per cent of all jobs.”
Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult said he was delighted.
“It’s something that we have been working towards for many months and they are both projects that we have had a desire to do for years.
“I am very pleased that the Government has heard our plea.”
Meanwhile the tourism sector is preparing for a rush of New Zealand tourists as school holidays begin next weekend. Coronet Peak opened yesterday, with a base of up to 60cm of snow, and plenty of skiers out on the slopes keen to get in the first run of the season.
The Remarkables is set to open next weekend.