Early feedback on the proposed Queenstown Aquatic Centre had been incredibly heartening, working party chairman Alan Macalister said.

"This is not altogether unexpected; in the two years of the investigation process, the working party has only received a single submission in opposition to the development of an aquatic centre, the remainder have been overwhelmingly in support," he said.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council received the final report of the aquatic centre working party on Friday, unanimously voting to progress the proposal to the next stage of design, commence the planning process and prepare funding applications.

The project was now subject to community consultation and the resource consent process. The concept designs are on display in the Queenstown Council foyer, together with a comments book.

"The centre will be the subject of a rigorous public process but we are also looking to capture some additional early feedback," Mr Macalister said.

While the height of the proposed aquatic centre was lower than the existing Queenstown Events Centre, the new centre would be situated between the Events Centre and the Cromwell highway.

"This provides an opportunity to vastly improve the outlook from the highway towards the existing building, "Mr Macalister said.

The centre would eventually be less visible from the state highway as a result of future surrounding development; however the project team's focus was on creating a development that worked well with the environment. A comprehensive landscaping plan would be part of that process.

"The project has now entered an exciting phase.  We have a first class and highly motivated design team that I have no doubt will create something the entire district will be proud of," Mr Macalister said.

The schedule put forward by the working party would see the new centre opening in November 2006.

ENDS

For further information please contact Alan Macalister 03 442 8110.

By: Kiri