The Queenstown Bike Park could host a second guided mountain-bike tour operator.
Outside Sports is seeking permission for groups of up to eight people - including one guide - to access the Ben Lomond Reserve via the Skyline Gondola, riding the trails down to a base buildingIf resource consent is granted, the locally-owned company will join Vertigo Bikes as the sole providers of guided tours in the Ben Lomond Forest.
The proposed guiding service would be aimed at beginner to intermediate-level riders, with a maximum of six groups running.
When contacted by the Queenstown Times, Outside Sports did not wish to comment on the proposal.
Tim Ceci, co-owner of Vertigo Bikes Queenstown, which has offered guided mountain-bike tours in the Ben Lomond forest since 2000, said it was great to see another operator in the Queenstown Bike Park.
"It's an amazing facility and it's there for the both of us," he said when contacted yesterday.
Outside Sports has a short-term agreement with Queenstown Gold Ltd to lease part of its Brecon St site for a base building from which to operate the guiding and rentals.
Skyline Gondola has given affected person's approval for the application.
