Prospective leasing arrangements for the Queenstown Lakes District Council's four main camping grounds are still being considered, but the ideal outcome will be private operators in place by this summer, council chief executive Adam Feeley says.
Earlier this year, the council called for expressions of interest for private provision of its camping facilities at Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown, and Glendhu Bay.
In emails to the Otago Daily Times this week, Mr Feeley said final proposals to the council from shortlisted parties were due shortly.
''Following evaluation and negotiations with preferred party(ies) in September, we hope to be in a position to put recommended options to council in October.''
Private management of the camps depended on the council accepting a finalised proposal from one or more parties.
''However ... it would be ideal to have any change in place to occur prior to the high season for camping to allow a smooth transition.''
About 10 expressions of interest were received by the council several months ago, and Mr Feeley said at the time he was ''pleasantly surprised'' by the high level of interest.
The process follows a review into the council's role in the operation of its camping grounds, which resulted in an amendment to its policy so it could no longer run camping grounds which competed with those operated by the private sector; or which required significant subsidies from ratepayers.
