During the submission hearing in Queenstown yesterday, submitter Evan Jenkins said the Lakeview land the council had identified as the preferred site was among the most beautiful in the country.
''Do we as a community want to facilitate a casino on that land?'' he asked.
Mr Jenkins said the conference centre and specifically, SkyCity's involvement, were ''much, much bigger than a conference centre'', citing increased gambling facilities and bars.
Mayor Vanessa van Uden told Mr Jenkins there would be public consultation on the conference centre and insisted ''no decision has been made by this council'' on the proposed centre.
Submitter Jeff Williams urged the council not to use the Lakeview land for a convention centre, ''which will have strong strings attached'' if SkyCity was the operator.
He noted the planned SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre came with ''very large obligations''.
In an agreement with the Government, the Auckland centre is allowed an extra 230 poker machines in exchange for SkyCity meeting the full cost of the centre.
While the council announced in February Lakeview was the preferred site, a Stanley St site and the Gorge Rd car park were also still being considered.
• As a network of cycle trails in Queenstown Lakes continues to lure tourists and provide places for locals to ride, the council was asked to fund various proposed trails and associated infrastructure, including bringing forward funding for a children's bike track at Lake Hayes Estate.
• The council also heard from Alastair Porter of Porter Group Ltd, who said further work was needed to stabilise the Kawarau River bank.
In his submission, he said Remarkables Park Ltd and Shotover Park Ltd, owned by Porter Group Ltd, had removed wilding pines from the bank on behalf of the council.
He advised councillors a loan provided by RPL and SPL could potentially be repaid as a development credit.
Mr Porter also asked that some of the Queenstown Airport Corporation dividend be used to support community projects like the Kawarau River bank work and the re-opening of the adjacent lower trail.
Submitters told the council the Arrowtown community CCTV system needed refurbishment, and said an idea for tourist parking and a floating boat ramp at Wilson's Bay should be funded. The draft annual plan hearing will move to Wanaka today for one day of hearing submissions.
