Plans for a redesigned Queenstown Convention Centre at Remarkables Park have been released.
Remarkables Park Limited said the reason they had revised their 2014 Queenstown Convention Centre resource consent application was to significantly improve its location so that it could be positioned immediately across from the proposed Queenstown Gondola, and to enhance the design of the Centre.
The location in a new precinct at Remarkables Park, to be known as Remarkables Place, is on prime land with water and Remarkables mountain views. It is also adjacent to the expansion of the Remarkables Park Town Centre and will share a generous public oval with the Base Station of the Queenstown Gondola.
In late 2015 the company announced plans to develop a $50m, 9.8km scenic gondola operating year-round, linking Remarkables Park to The Remarkables ski field, alpine recreation area and the high country Queenstown Park Station.
“The revised Convention Centre design by architects Mason & Wales is contemporary and striking. It draws The Remarkables mountains into the facility through tall floor to ceiling glass panels, and from the outside the glass will provide a dramatic reflection of the mountains,” said Alastair Porter, Remarkables Park Limited’s CEO.
Porter said in terms of delegate accommodation Remarkables Park was the largest greenfield area zoned for new hotels in Queenstown. The first of those hotels, the Ramada Hotel & Suites Remarkables Park, will open in June and there are more hotels to come.
“We are very pleased with Mason & Wales’ design which combines an appealing exterior with a highly functional and practical facility. The Centre is designed to be cost-effective to build, with the first stage estimated to cost $25m - $35m, excluding Remarkables Park Ltd’s land contribution.
“We expect the Centre will strongly appeal to conference organisers in terms of its iconic views, convenient location, close proximity to hotels and retail, and for its ability to leverage the Queenstown Gondola to access both Queenstown Park Station and the striking new large NZSki base building on The Remarkables, which will also be able to host conference activities in late spring, summer and autumn.
“We’re actively seeking interest from hotels interested in water view locations.”
Consent will be ready for submission in a matter of weeks, with an answer possible by the third quarter of 2016. This means a consortium could potentially open the Centre in 2018.
