All three candidates in Arrowtown's by election are against a council backed convention centre for Queenstown, or at least local residents having to fund it.
The Otago Daily Times reported on Saturday that worries over the project's long term costs, which sit at more than $140 million, are turning some central Queenstown business owners against the plan.
Now, the men vying for the Queenstown Lakes District Council's (QLDC) vacant Arrowtown seat - Scott Stevens, of Arrowtown, Howard Scott, of Dunedin, and Basil Walker, of Queenstown - have confirmed their opposition.
During a break in the national gold panning champs, in which he was competing, Mr Stevens said he was against residential ratepayers having to pay anything towards a convention centre.
''The argument is whether or not commercial ratepayers in downtown Queenstown want to fund it.''
Some central Queenstown businesses are facing huge rate hikes to pay for the convention centre and a $22.3 million sewerage system upgrade.
The Queenstown Chamber of Commerce will ask the QLDC to consider alternative funding, such as a bed tax, to take the heat off ratepayers.
Dr Scott, of Dunedin, said in a statement: ''I oppose the proposed ratepayer funded convention centre and will vote against it on council. Furthermore, I fully support initiatives for any privately funded convention centre.''
He was referring to Frankton developer Remarkables Park, which has gone public with plans for its own convention centre and is in the process of amending its consent application.
The third by election candidate, Basil Walker, previously supported the council backed centre planned for the Lakeview site.
He said yesterday: ''I now consider the chances of it being a debacle are too great a risk for ratepayers.''
Mr Walker wrote to Finance Minister Bill English last week, raising the spectre of another ''funding disaster'' like Forsyth Barr Stadium. The bankrupt developer mounted the last, and failed, legal challenge against the Dunedin stadium.
Mr Walker said Queenstown's conference facilities were adequate for conferences of up to 400 people.
Voting in Arrowtown's by election closes on May 1.