All councillors bar one abstention agreed at the council's meeting this week the capital spending item should go into the draft annual plan, allowing the public to have their say. With the backing, too, of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chief executive and several other leading business people, the project has momentum. Crucially, council chief executive Adam Feeley appears sold on the benefits, so much so that some see it as a potential monument to his time in charge.
Ratepayers now have time to pause for thought with the potential impact on rates having been calculated.
Mindful of the ''war stories'' over the building of new facilities in other communities, the council has adopted what it calls a conservative approach to the capital costs and profits and loses in its early years. The council reckons it will need to find $30.9 million of the likely $55.5 million, with an earlier indication of $20 million from the Government making up much of the shortfall.
This attitude is sensible because figures for Dunedin's new stadium proved grossly over-optimistic. While the Forsyth Barr Stadium could be proving its worth to the city and the university in various ways, it has cost Dunedin ratepayers more than promised. And to expect any stadium to return $4 million a year towards paying back loans before it could even think of making a surplus was totally unrealistic. Wisely, Queenstown sees the capital costs of a conference centre as ''sunk''. Internationally, centres have similar financial outcomes as stadiums.
If anywhere is going to make operating surpluses from large conferences it is Queenstown. As this country's premier tourist destination, it will prove attractive to conference organisers and participants from Australia and beyond.
Many residents, though, are going to question why they should be paying extra rates for a facility they will not realistically have the option to use - unlike gardens, roads, libraries, sports facilities. Under present proposals, even far-off residential ratepayers in the Wanaka area would pay 5%. Some legitimately will ask why on a medium value house they should pay $25, $23 and $21 a year for the first three years of the project.
The response will be about ''economic benefit'' to the whole district, with centre visitors also spilling over the hill. That, however, is an answer that will draw a negative reaction from those already thinking their area is growing too quickly.
Many in Queenstown, as well as Wanaka, will ask what is in it for me? Should the council be spending large amounts - and between $2.2 million and $2.6 million extra in rates over each of the first five years is a lot for a district with a small number of ratepayers, high rates and high debts.
As one councillor said, the ''elephant in the room'' is potential competition from a privately funded centre at Remarkables Park, Frankton. Understandably, given the economics of centres, there is scepticism about what might be proposed. Would it be large enough to really bring in the big conferences? Would it be in the best possible place? Would it be seeking public money? There are also plenty of smaller conferences at hotels around the region, and two large competing centres would appear to be unsustainable.
Queenstown, fundamentally, is a tourist town. For that reason regularly it will be seeking new attractions. And even if this winter there will be another 15,000 seats on Jetstar flights from Australia, it is the ''high-rollers'' who are most alluring financially as well as those least likely to cause disorder issues.
Both council consultation and a survey have shown more in favour of the council leading the development of a conference centre than against. But numbers opposed were also substantial and, as well, support could weaken once ratepayers realise rate increases are in store. This is a key issue for the district, one that will add debate and, potentially division to this year's annual plan process.
