Construction of Ziptrek Ecotours' flying fox operation is well under way but the company is waiting for a High Court review of its resource consent, which was granted by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in February 2008.
Skyline Enterprises, which operates the gondola on Bobs Peak, lodged the application for a review of the council's decision not to publicly notify the consent application, after a dispute between the two companies over use of the reserve.
Ziptrek Ecotours Queenstown director Trent Yeo would not comment on the court case while the result was still pending.
"I have been advised by my legal team to proceed with the construction, and I am excited about the progress," Mr Yeo said.
Despite the dispute with Skyline Enterprises, Mr Yeo is positive about Ziptrek's future co-operation with Skyline.
"Our clients would be using the gondola to access the public reserve on Bobs Peak to use our attraction, and I don't see any problem with that. I'm looking forward to working with all the operators who use the reserve," he said.
The attraction will consist of several tree huts connected by 25mm steel wires, most of which are already in place and being used in the construction phase. Instead of using heavy machinery to move logs, the cables are used to haul the timber into place.
"It is a rather primitive method, but it's effective and protects the forest and undergrowth," Mr Yeo said.
Ziptrek Ecotours is recruiting more than 30 employees as guides and guest service staff.
According to Mr Yeo, construction will be completed within the next two months, and he hopes to open the attraction to the public before Christmas as an "eco-experience" operating 365 days of the year.
