Council project manager Ken Gousmett said there seemed to be some desire from councillors to move the project along, following the council's cancellation of its agreement this week with its original preferred developer, Queenstown Marina Developments Ltd, after five years. The council did not vote to shelve the development on Tuesday, he said.
Mr Gousmett was asked for his comments on the proposal by Queenstown-fronted company Lakes Marina Projects, for an alternative minimum three-stage 132-berth inshore facility, as reported in Thursday's Otago Daily Times.
However, Mr Gousmett declined to comment as a number of proposals were expected eventually and the council had not yet provided new criteria.
"Council has decided to seek further expressions of interest, but has yet to meet to discuss the possible requirements that may go with that expression of interest," he said.
"In fact, council itself widened out the review to include all of Frankton Arm, so it's not just Frankton marina."
Identifying suitable marina sites elsewhere on the arm would be the starting point, and there were obvious opportunities, such as the Kawarau Falls Station waterfront. But Mr Gousmett said he was sure the the focus would come back to the Frankton marina reserve.
Frankton Marina Association chairman Gary Reynolds, of Queenstown, said yesterday an affordable inshore marina was what boat enthusiasts petitioned for, regardless of who was to build it.
Many enthusiasts favoured full, or part, council ownership of a new facility to avoid "selling the crown jewels".
Lakes Marina Projects had a good proposal and association members will meet to discuss the outcome of the council meeting, Mr Reynolds said.
"We had a good feeling when we walked out of the meeting that the council are proactive about getting an inshore marina and not an offshore marina.
"We want to help the council in any way to expedite a marina."
