Mr Geddes was asked by the Queenstown Times for his thoughts on the comment made by council utilities general manager Mark Kunath, who during a recent utilities committee meeting said 50 jobs could be supported in the community for every $5 million of council works spending.
"It's important people understand that his comments are about civil engineering works, water, sewerage and roading, and those budgets are set in the 10-year plan, which is about to go out for submissions," Mr Geddes said.
"The construction industry at this time is looking at a reasonably serious downturn in the middle of next year because there are no large construction projects in either the planning or implementation stage to replace those currently under way.
"We've got a potential economic downturn . . . so that creates an opportunity for any person, including council, to undertake projects the cost of which would clearly be lower than building them in the middle of a boom."
Mr Geddes said Mr Kunath's comment was "something we need to keep in the back of our minds if we end up in a worst-case scenario". However, the mayor could not find anyone prepared to give a clear view of what the economic future looked like.
"As long as there is an extremely high level of uncertainty about the economic future, we have to keep our options open."
A new office block next to the Queenstown Lakes District Council headquarters and a new performing arts centre were two major civic proposals in the authority's pipeline.
Mr Geddes said the proposed $20 million council office was a live project and included in the draft 10-year plan.
The 4000sq m staged development on the Gorge Rd carpark would accommodate Lakes Environmental, Lakes Engineering and Destination Queenstown staff under one roof, with some capacity for the future, "but not a lot", he said.
"The original intention was to build a building that would have some parts of it leased to the private sector in the medium to short term, but that is no longer an option - look at the state of the market. So the building has been reduced accordingly."
Meanwhile, the proposed Pokapu Kawarau Remarkables Centre project was parked and awaiting a "value engineering workshop" involving councillors and the public, Mr Geddes said.
Private-sector interest in stage one of the civic centre, estimated to cost $32 million, and to be built on the Stanley St car park, had been received by the council and talks were ongoing.
"It would be most unfortunate if it didn't happen in one shape or form," Mr Geddes said.
"The idea of using a 55-year-old barely adequate memorial hall as the primary forum for performing and visual arts is, in my view, nonsensical."
Mr Geddes said the council agreed some time ago to hold a workshop to review its procurement strategy. The workshop would be held in two or three weeks.
"That's the appropriate forum to decide whether there is a case for any change to our strategy."
