The National Party’s third-ranked MP, speaking during a recent visit to the resort, believes this is better than allocating shovel-ready funding which, in the case of the town bypass project, is only for half the job.
"Obviously the government [through strategic tourism assets funding] gave a big chunk of money to a bungy jumping firm, and things like that, but actually town is much wider than that.
"There’s certain businesses that are iconic, there’s certain people who are fundamental, we should have actually helped you get through that.
"I don’t think little bits of funding [for] shovel-ready projects is doing that."
Bayly’s premise is that Queenstown is a drawcard for New Zealand’s tourism industry, and therefore needs support.
With his bulk-funding initiative, he says he would have let Queenstown, rather than government in Wellington, allocate the money.
Speaking just before Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced essential skills visa extensions for many migrants, Bayly also said he would make it easier for Queenstown to bring in ‘‘critical’’ staff from overseas, for example, qualified chefs.
"This is where Queenstown should be actually helping the government formulate who’s really important for the town.
"The worrying thing is I don’t think the government will move fast enough to deal with your deficit of skills.
"The second thing is you’ve got people here on temporary visas who will leave NZ at the drop of a hat as soon as they can get home."
Bayly’s third concern, on the staffing front, is Australia is "aggressively" trying to poach key staff and so, even, is Canada.
"Those three things are a cocktail that is pretty ugly for Queenstown, and you need a government that actually thinks about it, and deals with it proactively."
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Comments
A joke surely?
I thought they had - AJ Hackett bungy jumps for one and others we the public hear nothing off. The place that really should get government support for continuation and for infrastructure is Franz and Fox Glacier townships.
The first reaction is to say this is why National aren't fit to govern.
Is Queenstown the only place in this country? But no, that is how that party think = reactionary.
But folks If you don't believe me, and are retired and have time, watch question time on Parliament TV and you'll see this Bayly chap and his inept cohorts.
I would go a step further and make Queenstown and the Southern Lakes a special economic zone with specific planning, environmental and funding laws. In exchange, the region would need to provide greater tax revenues to the crown.
Successive governments have not realised the true potential for the region and it will continue to meander along within a regulatory and governance arrangements that are not fit for purpose.
Tell him to get lost! what a joke, these business owners a millionaires, why not ask them to sell their house if they need funding. Come and help me and loads of others that need funding.... National cannot buy votes. This is not news.