A billionaire-backed cable car linking Queenstown and its airport risks becoming a \u2018\u2018white-elephant\u2019\u2019 few locals use, the council has warned.<\/p>\n
The $400million project been pitched as a way to take pressure of Queenstown\u2019s stretched transport system by taking up to 3000 passengers an hour each way – the equivalent of a 50-seater bus every minute in each direction.<\/p>\n
But Queenstown Lakes District Council has raised serious concerns over the Sir Rod Drury-backed project which is moving through the fast-track process.<\/p>\n
The concerns include \u2018\u2018critical gaps\u2019\u2019 in information, if it constituted public transport and fears if patronage did not meet financial demands, the district may be left with a \u2018\u2018white elephant\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
The council told the fast-track panel the timing of Southern Infrastructure Ltd\u2019s application might be \u2018\u2018premature\u2019\u2019 and more appropriate when the project could demonstrate it was possible to deliver.<\/p>\n
It was understood Otago Regional Council (ORC) was yet to provide the necessary approval, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) funding pathway was not resolved and it still required \u2018\u2018full agreement\u2019\u2019 from the council, ORC and other agencies this was the \u2018\u2018public transport solution for Queenstown\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Without the above three things, the question is raised as to whether the project constitutes public transport, and therefore the benefits that come with that can be realised, which is paramount to its feasibility.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018A cable car that is part of the public transport solution for Queenstown is not fanciful,\u2019\u2019 the council said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018However, realistically there is only one opportunity … and it is vital that any system advanced is the right one and in the right location.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The council questioned whether it would properly serve Queenstown when the proposal excluded Fernhill, Lakeview, Arthurs Point and the areas along Frankton Rd, between the town centre and Frankton.<\/p>\n
There was an opportunity to realign the route and stations to better capture existing and future \u2018\u2018walk-up urban catchments\u2019\u2019, but that opportunity would be lost if the project was referred in its present form to the substantive application stage.<\/p>\n
The council also said it was \u2018\u2018unlikely\u2019\u2019 3000 passengers an hour, in each direction, would use the cable car, while visitors \u2018\u2018are generally not seeking to be confined to those catchments the proposal serves\u2019\u2019, and instead may opt to hire a rental vehicle.<\/p>\n
The council said the application placed \u2018\u2018heavy reliance\u2019\u2019 on unsecured public funding from the council, ORC and NZTA, while ongoing maintenance and operating costs had not been detailed representing a \u2018\u2018significant oversight\u2019\u2019 in assessing the long-term feasibility.<\/p>\n
Those costs were \u2018\u2018likely to be very significant in scale and ones that shouldn\u2019t fall on a small ratepayer base\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Should public funding not be secured, the application states the alternative is to construct, operate and maintain a private commercial system, heavily reliant on customer patronage.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018What occurs if patronage doesn\u2019t meet financial demands?<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Will the district be left with a \u2018white elephant\u2019 defunct cable car system?\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
A consultant\u2019s review also included in the council\u2019s submission raised concerns about long queues.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The capacity of each cabin is low, and this may result in significant queuing at stations as people wait to board.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018If the queues were to exceed the capacity of the station, this may result in queuing on the surrounding streets which may cause safety issues or block footpaths.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Southern Infrastructure did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.<\/p>\n