Speaking to the Otago Daily Times from Auckland yesterday, United States philanthropist Paul Brainerd said he and his wife, Debbi, were using part of their time there looking at potential architects for the future stages of the Glenorchy Marketplace project.
Last week, the Environment Court signed off a new landscape and master concept plan for the first stage - billed as New Zealand's greenest camping ground - resolving an appeal by resident Nikki Gladding.
On completion, the camping ground will cater for up to 140 guests in cabins, tents and campervan sites on a 3ha site next to conservation land.
Mr Brainerd said earthworks on site, expected to take up to two months, would begin this week.
After that, work on the buildings would begin.
The camping ground was expected to be open in early 2017, after which the focus would turn to the second and third phases - re-establishing the general store and creating a small cafe and an ''arts area''.
The entire project was likely to take three to four years to complete, Mr Brainerd said.
''On this trip [to Auckland] we were looking at architects for phases two and three and getting started on that process, now that we've resolved consent for phase one.
''We just want to get going.''
Mr Brainerd said reopening the camping ground was the priority, to provide visitor accommodation in the town.
''There's been such a lack of visitor accommodation there ... the community really wanted us to reopen the camp ground so they had a place for people to stay in Glenorchy when they came up the road.''
The project was being run by Queenstown-based Peak Projects, with most sub-contractors also from the resort.
''There's about 20 different members of the design team, including the engineering companies; almost all of them are based in Queenstown.
''[It's providing] quite a few jobs ... in the community as well and, of course, in the Queenstown area.''
The project will feature environmentally sensitive architectural design and buildings that use half the energy of traditional ones.
Profits from the venture will go to an independent community trust, directed by local residents, to support community projects.
