Tech entrepreneur Rod Drury is leading the project. A key driver, he says, is Queenstown's plan to become the world's first carbon neutral tourism destination by 2030.
“The most important thing is: how do we get those cars off the road?”
He saw it not only as an alternative option for skiers and snowboarders accessing the Coronet Peak ski area, but also as a way for mountain bikers to access the increasing number of trails – which he has had some involvement with through the Queenstown Mountain Biking Club. Because of these dual uses, “the business case for them looks pretty good.”
The gondola would come from the end of Coronet Peak Station Rd, at Malaghans Rd.
There would possibly be a new loop road to the base station, with a car park and bus stop, and the existing Coronet Peak Station Rd would be the outbound lane, he said.
He suggested there could also be “an environmentally conscious way” to install a bicycle hub.
He said he had good interest from the Cleary family, owners of Coronet Peak Station.
It is understood the fast-track application also includes a village with some homes, details of which will be released later.
Mr Drury said he was aware there was “a lot of nervousness” about the Fast-track Approvals Bill.
“For us it was really important to make sure we work closely with Ngāi Tahu and ensure conservation is led.”
He saw that the gondola fits in with the project to re-cover the face under the ski field with native trees.
The fast-track legislation was “a good catalyst to get everyone involved and see what could happen.”
'We've had great support from [skifield operator] NZSki, the landowners and stakeholders. It was a really good collaboration with a group of people, including Ngāi Tahu.
“It's not something we want to ram through, we just thought everything was lined up, and we'll see where it ends up.”
In 2015, Porter Group Ltd announced plans for a $50 million gondola from Remarkables Park to the Remarkables.
Mr Drury thought his Coronet Peak version was “probably an easier version to get away with economically because of all the work we did on the trails there”.
Meanwhile, NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said NZSki was doing everything it could to support the Coronet gondola proposal.
Iwi-led environmental initiative Te Tapu o Tāne CEO Jana Davis said the project would help build on existing wetlands at the foot of Coronet Peak, which are part of the Lake Hayes catchment.
The gondola could be the first step in reducing traffic congestion.