The council will discuss the project again tomorrow.
Frankton Marina Association chairman Gary Reynolds, of Queenstown, said on Friday the Frankton Marina Association collected about 100 signatures, mostly from boat users, and more were being added daily, in support of an inshore marina. The association would present the signatures to the council before it meets tomorrow.
Mr Reynolds said the agenda report to be tabled made no mention of plans for an inshore marina, which was what experienced boaters wanted.
He said he could not see anything in the report which helped boat users at all.
"The wind comes up [the Frankton Arm] something shocking. The boats get bashed around no matter how well they're tied on off-shore, whereas an inshore marina like Te Anau would be perfect.
"Why pay consultants when you can ask the public who are into boating. We need a safe environment for boating and we're lagging behind.
"We're an international destination, but we're a joke when it comes to boating."
Frankton Marina project manager Ken Gousmett will recommend councillors cancel the agreement between the council and marina developer Queenstown Marina Developments Ltd (QMDL), as conditions were not met before the deadline of June 30. QMDL's request for an extra 120 days for a project review was received by the council on August 2.
Mr Gousmett also recommended councillors call for another round of expressions of interest for a council development partner for the marina.
If the council threw out its conditional agreement with QMDL, Mr Gousmett reported the options for councillors were to shelve the project until the economy improved, or indefinitely; clean silt from the existing boat basin and backfill with clean hard fill, with grassed areas and beach restoration; advertise for further expressions of interest from development partners, or the council plan and develop the marina itself.
Frankton Marina: Choppy waters
• Queenstown Marina Developments Ltd (QMDL) launches plan for staged $20 million, 240-berth offshore marina, in Frankton Arm, with both public lease and unrestricted access, plus onshore support complex and car park, accessed via Sugar Lane, off Frankton Rd.
• Queenstown Lakes District Council enters into memorandum of understanding with the Christchurch company in 2006. However, the council announced in September 2009, the developer was unable to meet the memorandum's conditions, despite applying considerable resources and despite the council extending the agreed deadline several times.
• Council calls for new expressions of interest. Working party receives four responses, including one from QMDL. The company becomes the council's newly renominated "preferred developer" and enters into the conditional agreement in November 2010.
