Queenstown's proposed independent school - likely to be a multimillion-dollar project - could be open in two years.
Arrowtown resident Lisa Guy, the Queenstown contact for the project, said yesterday the Auckland-based promoters of the school, Wentworth College principal Bruce Tong and Wentworth Property's Stephen Fleming, were working "full crank" on the project.
There had been a "groundswell" of support for the proposed school, with commitments from parents of 100 children likely to ensure it proceeded, she said.
Based on feedback after an online survey, the trio were confident there was a need and a desire for the school.
Mrs Guy yesterday said it would "definitely happen. It's just a matter of when".
"If it was to go ahead in 2013 or 2014, that's astounding ... I think 2013 would be hugely optimistic - that means we've got a site consented, with infrastructure, and we can start digging.
"I think 2014 is probably more realistic."
Mrs Tong said the start-up timetable would be based on the number of children in the years 7, 8 and 9 age groups whose parents were "committed" to sending their children to the school.
Work on securing a site was progressing, with five sites identified as having potential, three of which were preferred.
Mrs Guy said she was unable to comment on where the sites were because of commercial sensitivity.
The ODT reported in March potential sites included land at Jacks Point, near Millbrook, behind Queenstown Airport and near Coronet Peak Station.
Mr Tong said those sites had "obvious potential", but there had also been approaches about sites which had not previously been considered and he was still interested to hear from other parties.
He had "no idea" what the proposed school would cost to construct.
"We know what we paid for Wentworth in Auckland, but that's really no indication."
He declined to comment on the cost of Wentworth College, designed and built by Econobuilt on a greenfields site at Gulf Harbour.
Stage one of that school comprised a 2500sq m gym and 3000sq m of classrooms, science labs, technical blocks, a library and administration area, with work beginning in 2002 and completed in under nine months, enabling the school to open in 2003.
The school curriculum emphasised the importance of sport and recreation. In Queenstown there was a potential to include snowsports in the curriculum.
It was likely the proposed Queenstown school would follow the Wentworth College model, which has a ratio of one teacher to 11 or 12 pupils, Mr Tong said.
The proposed school was in no way linked to Act New Zealand's charter schools policy, he said.
The independent school proposal would see funding come entirely from investors and fees paid by parents - which could be about $10,000 per year for a primary school pupil and $15,000 per year for a secondary school pupil.
While traditionally years 7 and 8 were seen as part of the primary school system, "the pendulum has swung" and those children were now more often absorbed into secondary schools, Mr Tong said.
The fees would help to pay teachers' salaries and assist with the running of the school.
Mrs Guy said it was hoped another public meeting would be held in the resort in July to present concept drawings.
Wakatipu High School board of trustees head of communications Greg Turner said if people in the Wakatipu community were "concerned about the quality of education ... I would rather see them get in behind the high school".
Supporting the existing school was "a more sensible thing to do", Mr Turner said.
"It's hard to imagine it would really be a goer here. The jury is ... out."
