The Waitaki District Council welcomed public submissions over changing the land status of the Kurow Recreation Reserve to accommodate the planned art school.
Of the 16 submissions received, all were in favour.
Heritage New Zealand submitted in support of the reclassification because the proposed school would "recognise and manage the significant historic heritage within the proposed reserve for future generations, whilst managing sustainable development of the site".
The Whitestone Civic Trust also supported the change and said the school would be an "appropriate and sympathetic use that respects building’s heritage character while providing clear public and community benefit".
"The building’s original educational purpose makes it especially well suited to this continued role," it would go on to say.
A key theme from submissions of members of the public was they believed the school would make good use of the old Kurow School building on the site and it would offer future protections for that piece of land.
As there were no opposing submissions, the council decision in December authorises the reclassification with no further decision-making required.
Project manager and South Star School Charitable Trust trustee Nicole Schofield said it was great news and was excited to continue the process of establishing the school.
"We’re still hoping that we can get the doors open for November.
"Given that everything goes according to the master plan and we’re successful with our grants for lotteries and Otago Community Trust, hopefully we’ll look to be starting the restoration over the winter."
In the meantime, the trust is hard at work fundraising.
Ms Schofield said the trust had to raise a third of the total cost before it could apply to Heritage Lotteries.
It is raffling off two nights of luxury accommodation in Queenstown valued at $4000, while also applying to various grants and funds bodies to assist with the project.
Ms Schofield had also set up a website and social media accounts for the school so the public could follow along with the process.
"We’re here for the community so we want to bring people along every step of the way."
The next step is negotiating a ground lease with the council and there will be another public notification to gauge the communities view on the council entering a lease with South Star School Charitable Trust.
