The Southern District Health Board has set a deadline of September 15 for parties interested in overseeing the design, construction tender process and building works.
Announced a month ago, the upgrade will involve a reconfiguration of the emergency department, an audiovisual suite for telemedicine, the addition of CT scanner and ultrasound services and a general refurbishment.
It is being overseen by a DHB-appointed steering group that includes local representative and Queenstown Lakes District Council candidate Tony Hill.
Mr Hill said the project would enable the hospital to meet the needs of residents and visitors for the next five years or so.
It would address the ''massive'' number of admissions to its emergency department, and meet the community's long-held desire for a CT scanner.
The steering group was determined to have the project completed in 2018, Mr Hill said.
''There's a huge willingness to get this thing done.''
The upgrade would stay inside the building's existing footprint.
''We don't want to trigger any major consent issues.''
