The plan, which outlines almost $1billion in capital expenditure over the next decade, now goes out for public consultation.
At the outset of yesterday’s meeting Mr Boult read a statement from long-term plan chairman Cr Ross McRobie, who was unable to attend.
He said the plan was "undoubtedly" the hardest and most far-reaching one ever presented for approval "probably by any council in this district".
Auditors had mentioned there had not yet been a 10-year plan delivered on, but Cr McRobie said he had "strongly conveyed" the council aimed to deliver it without "slippage".
"We have been charged to get things done and sort the district out.
"This plan does that."
Mr Boult acknowledged the work from council staff, calling it an "enormous exercise".
"This is the most important plan the council has ever considered."
He had received "encouraging comments" from Central Government on its willingness to assist the council to "do more".
Mr Boult also said there was a "really good groundswell" in support of a tourist levy from other major centres, including Auckland and Wellington, regional areas also struggling with the cost of tourism and Local Government New Zealand.
With regard to the draft plan, Cr Tony Hill was concerned about a lack of contingency funding, but Mr Boult said when situations arose the council would need to re-prioritise requiring "something else not to be done".
Both Crs Calum MacLeod and Quentin Smith sought an assurance the Upper Clutha would not be overlooked, while Cr Penny Clark questioned if the Queenstown CBD zone should be extended to include properties on Queenstown Hill, which she described as a "very wealthy area".
Under the draft plan a new targeted rate is proposed for the wider Wakatipu CBD to fund the $327.7million Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan.
Cr Clark believed the council needed to reconsider extending that zone to "spread the rate a little bit".
Finance and regulatory general manager Stewart Burns said the targeted rate "may not be required" in the same way if the council could attract "significant investment in the CBD by the Crown".
Further, it would not be introduced for three to four years.
Submissions on the draft plan will open on Monday and close on April 13. Hearings of submissions are scheduled on May 15 in Queenstown and the following day in Wanaka. The plan will then be considered for adoption by the council in June.
