The Queenstown Lakes District Council has submitted four bids to the Government's $1billion infrastructure fund.
It wants cash for a town centre bypass, a host of transport upgrades at Ladies Mile, a new road to Quail Rise and to put Kingston on the development map.
Council chief executive Mike Theelen said: ''Accessing some of the Government's $1 billion fund would give us options by providing a new funding stream, easing some of the cost that would otherwise fall on ratepayers.''
The loans for the infrastructure projects would be paid from future development contributions.
Ladies Mile, Quail Rise, Kingston and central Queenstown are identified as key development areas.
Millions would be spent in the Ladies Mile area, enabling about 1000 houses to be built.
Projects include better public transport, a Lake Hayes Estate roundabout and water system upgrades. There are already 332 retirement houses planned for the area.
A new road linking the State Highway 6-Hawthorne Dr roundabout to Quail Rise's Ferry Hill Dr could open up 'Quail Rise South', enabling another 1100 houses to be built. It would help ease problems at the Tucker Beach Rd turn-off.
Quail Rise resident Greg Thompson said that would be welcomed with open arms and he was not concerned about suburban sprawl.
''It's all flat land there.
A new pedestrian cycleway under State Highway 6 was also mooted. In Kingston, the money would be used for water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
That, along with the special zoning of land, would enable developers to build 950 houses. There are about 300 there now.
Kingston Community Association chairman Athol Elliott said: ''If it helps us get reticulated water and sewerage, residents will probably be all for it.
''That's a promise from QLDC we've had for some time.
''It will change the Kingston environment and character, everything, but it's already changing.
''There's not many cribbies left, it's mostly permanent residents now, many priced out of Queenstown.''
More development might ruin it for some, he said, adding ''you can't stand in the way of progress''.
A long-mooted central Queenstown bypass - known as inner links, taking traffic away from Shotover St - would enable intensified housing.
That includes the expanded town centre up Man St, made possible by a council plan change.
Mr Theelen said nothing was set in stone.
''Putting in these funding applications doesn't create any obligation or commitment from our point of view. We are a high growth area and the community and Government alike expect us to take every opportunity to meet the challenges of that growth.''
Clutha Southland MP Todd Barclay said Queenstown put a ''pretty compelling case'' to the Government.
''I gave the council an assurance I would tirelessly advocate for their projects with key infrastructure ministers.''
A government decision is expected in June.
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Comments
I hope that many apartments close to the town centre will be built.
Many people want to live and work close to town.
There should be choices in a busy resort. The costs of building apartments is much less than building houses in new suburbs as the new infrastructure is very expensive.