Slow progress on the proposed $10 million Frankton marina since a preferred developer was appointed nearly a year ago could be turned around now a design report has been prepared.
Today, at a full Queenstown Lakes District Council meeting, councillors will discuss a report prepared by the council's infrastructure and assets general manager, Erik Barnes, which says resource consent for the project is anticipated to be lodged within the next four to six weeks by preferred developer Lakes Marina Projects Ltd.
''Progress has been slow over the past year in regards to LMPL's provision of design information, updated supporting information, and a programme for the development'' and to date the development agreement has not been signed, Mr Barnes said in his report.
''A key missing component for the agreement to progress was the development programme.''
Mr Barnes added the council and Lakes Marina Projects had been working together to ''gain the necessary supporting information and confidence to finalise the development agreement''.
The Otago Daily Times last year reported the proposed marina would include 100 berths in stage one and another 100 in stage two, as well as various facilities.
Today the council will also decide whether to defer choosing a new councillor to chair the Frankton marina working party and councillors to be part of the group's membership until after the local government elections. Working party chairman John Mann is not seeking re-election.
Lakes Marina Projects was specifically formed to undertake the building of the marina. The group's founding shareholders are Nasser Barabi, Iraj Barabi and Alan Kirker.
It was reported last year the Barabis owned and managed a technology company in the San Francisco Bay area and owned and managed residential and commercial real estate holdings in the United States, Auckland and Queenstown, while Mr Kirker is a Queenstown businessman with an interest and experience in marine businesses.
The council wants to facilitate a marina but not develop it and has twice sought expressions of interest from developers.
The council officially designated Lakes Marina Projects Ltd as the preferred developer in December.
