Council to Test Market - Camp Grounds

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from potential camp ground operators, QLDC chief executive Adam Feeley said.

The nature and scale of QLDC's role in the operation of campgrounds was reviewed in January 2013 and a report considered by Council on February 2013.

“Council has asked me to provide it with a further report by June (2013) on the future and scale of Council’s involvement in campground management in the District,” Mr Feeley said.

The report needed to include recommendations to reduce the operational costs of maintaining the four main holiday parks (Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown, and Glendhu Bay).

“It also needs to address the viability of a commercial arrangement for private provision of camping facilities at these sites,” Mr Feeley said. As a first step in preparing the report an Expression of Interest (EOI) process would be undertaken for the QLDC campgrounds.

“The purpose of the EOI is to assess the interest from private entities in operating the campgrounds and to help inform the recommendations to be made to Council regarding future campground operations. It’s effectively testing the market to inform any future decision,” Mr Feeley said.

The EOI process would not commit Council to any outcomes at this stage but help inform the wider assessment of options.

At the February meeting Council elected to ensure there were traditional Kiwi camping facilities in the District to provide affordable accommodation based on the following amended policy on provision of camping facilities:

Council will not operate camping facilities which: (i) compete with equivalent or greater facilities being operated by the private sector; and (ii) require ratepayers to materially subsidise visitor accommodation in the District.

The EOI document is now available on the Council website and would be publicly notified this weekend.

ENDS

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