Leitner has been chosen for the Queenstown Airport to city centre route, proposed to journey by way of the Frankton Bus Hub, whereas Doppelmayr would lead detailed design improvement for the Frankton Bus Hub to Women Mile line.
The proposed route would join the transport hub with the rising Women Mile residential and industrial space, by way of a station on the Queenstown Central precinct.
Southern Infrastructure chief government Ross Copland mentioned the analysis course of was intensive and extremely aggressive.
“There are numerous ropeway applied sciences that fall underneath the broad definition of ‘cable automobile’, so it was crucial we explored the complete spectrum — from standard gondolas to newer ideas.
“What mattered most was excessive capability, aviation-grade security efficiency, monetary energy, and a confirmed means to ship in New Zealand.
“For this particular city transport utility, gondola expertise stood clearly above the remaining.”
Leitner was already well-known in New Zealand, having delivered main installations together with NZSki’s Coronet Categorical, Mt Ruapehu’s Sky Waka gondola and Mt Hutt’s new eight-seater chairlift.
Doppelmayr had been working in New Zealand for 50 years — its initiatives included the nation’s first removable chairlifts and the latest Skyline Queenstown gondola redevelopment.
Mr Copland mentioned Southern Infrastructure assessed a variety of established and rising transport applied sciences, together with Whoosh, hybrid ideas resembling Ropetaxi, and platforms that mixed standard gondola and autonomous automobile expertise, earlier than deciding on the popular answer for the primary two traces of the community.
“For the spine of the community we’ve chosen a confirmed, build-ready system that may be delivered instantly.
“Queenstowners don’t need to be the guinea pigs in a transport science mission — they want dependable mass transit yesterday.
“Importantly, the community has been designed to be future-ready, with the pliability to combine new applied sciences as they mature.”
Mr Copland mentioned the door remained open to increasing the community with different applied sciences as they demonstrated “reliability at scale”.
The following part of the mission, which just lately acquired conditional endorsement from the Infrastructure Fee as a mission of nationwide significance, would come with detailed design and engineering, environmental and technical assessments and landowner and neighborhood session.
Development was focused to start in 2027 with the primary line anticipated to be operational by 2029, topic to approvals.
“Early subsequent 12 months we’ll be ready to share extra element and work by suggestions forward of lodging our substantive consent utility, topic to affirmation of the suitable consenting pathway,” Mr Copland mentioned.
“This mission isn’t nearly transport — it’s about unlocking Queenstown’s financial potential.
“By easing congestion and offering a dependable, sustainable different, we’re supporting native companies to thrive by decoupling site visitors development from financial development.”
Doppelmayr New Zealand chief government Garreth Hayman mentioned in a press release whereas they had been “naturally upset” to not have been chosen for the Queenstown Airport to city centre route, “in the end the true winner right here is Queenstown”.
“Every step ahead brings the city nearer to the trendy transport infrastructure it must help development, cut back congestion and enhance high quality of life.”
 – ALLIED MEDIA
