Luge to work – Queenstown’s wild new transport plan
An Australian consortium is pitching an $128 million plan to turn Queenstown’s steep hills into a high-speed luge network.
Four massive tracks would create an environmentally-friendly route into downtown, with terminals on Queenstown Hill, Fernhill, Ben Lomond and Deer Park Heights.
April Hurst, spokesperson for the Fast Overland Operators Ltd consortium, says the luges will be able to transport 5000 residents and visitors per hour at break-neck speeds into downtown.
"Queenstown was built on extreme sports - so why not extreme commuting?" she says.
"It will revitalise downtown, act as a tourism drawcard and is the most environmentally-friendly way to move thousands of people per hour through Queenstown's constrained environment."
Massive multi-story car parks will be built at each terminal, reducing the need for the expensive-to-run diesel-powered Orbus services.
Hurst says the "totally fair" pricing model will see locals charged a mandatory $100-per week.
"That's cheaper than a ski pass, more or less, and about the same as parking downtown," she says.
Visitors meanwhile will pay via a dynamic pricing model. "We'll charge them however much we think we can get away with. Whatever they're prepared to pay really."
The consortium will fund $50 million of the overall luge construction costs, with ratepayers picking up the rest, plus ongoing maintenance.
Queenstown Lakes District Council has agreed to fund any and all extra costs, as well as providing land, staff, and paying a proportion of the consortium's wages.
"It's probably the best deal we've stuck so far," one unnamed council staffer says.
It has already rubberstamped the plans, which are due to be submitted today, 1 April.
The 4km Queenstown Hill track will begin with a near-vertical drop to blow off any morning cobwebs or hangovers, while the Fernhill track will replace the boring old bike trails.
Ben Lomond track will provide a 6km adrenalin rush (helmets are mandatory), while the Deer Park Heights route picks up speed through Kelvin Heights before a short 'Hold My Beer' jump over Lake Wakatipu.
Hurst says there are no plans as yet for how commuters will get home.
