Investigations into building a Queenstown conference centre are gathering force, after an announcement on Friday a feasibility study has been launched to determine the demand.
Conference centre working party member and Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden said research showed there were "a number of viable sites available", but work was needed to establish demand.
"We've been told that if we build it, they will come. However, if we want central Government and council to get behind the project, we need to show them more than just anecdotal evidence."
Ms van Uden would not be drawn on what sites were being considered, as the study's results would "play a part in the final site selection".
She said funding was an important consideration and the demand would determine who, in addition to potential central government support, might contribute to the project.
"We've had to ... think about where else the funding will come from and if council will be involved, so we have to go through that public process first before we can think about the site."
The working party last year formulated a brief for what it was looking for, stating a preference for a "central Queenstown location".
Various locations have been mooted for what is hoped to be a 1000 to 1200-person facility, including a site over the Gorge Rd car park and another above the Man St car park.
Ms van Uden said the group had looked at a range of sites and requested more detail on some.
"The process so far has given us confidence that a suitable site will be able to be found.
"We're fortunate that we have such a range of potential locations available to us," she said.
The working party consists of Ms van Uden, Sir Eion Edgar, Penny Clark, Miles Wilson, Kylie Brittain and Steve Wilde.
