Cautious optimism among Queenstown's business fraternity could be a "pretty accurate barometer" for the nation's gradual economic recovery, Clutha-Southland MP Bill English said in a speech to the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
The deputy prime minister has been on the road explaining the 2011 Budget for the past two weeks and responded to audience questions on the possibility of a new high school in Queenstown, progress on the proposed $19 million bridge at Kawarau Falls and the Government's plans for the role of the private sector in the estimated $20 billion rebuilding of Christchurch.
Mr English said the Government was "committed" to a new high school in the resort, which would happen "reasonably soon", pending the outcome of a public/private education model under review.
A new two-lane Kawarau Falls bridge, which is not due to be constructed until at least 2016, was "in the pipeline" as soon as funding for major national infrastructure projects had been allotted, Mr English said.
"We'll then get some better opportunities to haggle over the next batch of projects."
When asked if the Government had "enough of a grip" on the Christchurch rebuild and the future of the city, Mr English said "we're never going to be satisfied we've got a perfect grip on it ... in the end it will depend on the private capital that's willing to come to Christchurch".
In the next week, the Government would announce whether Christchurch suburbs - especially those affected by liquefaction - would have to be "cleared".
Planning processes and demolition strategies needed to get "up and going" and any residual disputes arising from the rebuild could be dealt with after reconstruction had begun.
"We've got to aim for a two to three-year horizon to get this done," Mr English said.
