Kingsview Early Learning Centre has been given verbal approval by commissioners, after a hearing on Tuesday.
The centre has 30 Wakatipu families already on the waiting list to enroll their children.
Commissioners David Collins and Christine Kelly "advised their intention to grant consent, and we expect a written decision in due course", resource management consultant Melissa Vining, who lodged the resource consent application for the Christian School Association of Queenstown, said yesterday.
"It's fantastic, given the need for more certainties on education in this district," Mrs Vining said.
The indication of approval was significant for KingsView School's planning for 2012. It was also a close call because, if the case had gone to the Environment Court, it might not have been resolved before the school's existing resource consent expires in February 2013.
The annual consent renewal had been a stop-gap measure since February 2007, while the newly state-integrated school's proprietors worked with the Ministry of Education to find a permanent site for a new special character school for about 300 pupils in the Wakatipu.
"We're absolutely thrilled. It gives the school and early learning centre certainty on this site and we're grateful for the way we were able to work with the objectors," Christchurch Christian Schools co-ordinator Andy van Ameyde said.
Christian School Association of Queenstown counsel Russell Ibbotson said yesterday primary opposing submitters, the R.J. Cunningham Family Trust and the Duketon Family Trust, withdrew from the process after the application was pared down.
During the hearing the association and trustees came to realise the proposal had been "put in jeopardy" by including Salvation Army activities at the school hall, which was not acceptable to submitters, Mr Ibbotson said.
