The company behind the proposal for a gondola linking the Crown Range Road and the Cardrona and Soho ski areas can now officially apply to make the project a reality.

Late last year Blackman Creek Holdings Ltd’s plans for a gondola (as well as ski area development including visitor accommodation, guest facilities and workers' accommodation) were made public when it was named as one of 149 projects listed for inclusion in the Fast Track Approvals Act.

Earlier this month (February 7), listed projects - selected for their potential for regional or national significance - were given the green light to lodge their applications at the new Fast Track website.

While Blackman Creek Holdings Ltd (which lists developer John Darby as the director) has not yet lodged its application, newly-public information says the company hopes the gondola will be operational by 2028.

“...construction of the gondola, infrastructure, and associated base facilities is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion targeted before the 2028 winter ski season,” application documents submitted on behalf of Blackman Creek Holdings Ltd said. 

The construction of on-mountain visitor and staff accommodation “will commence immediately after completing the gondola and base facilities construction”.

“The aim is to finish this stage ahead of the 2029 winter season.”

The documents said the company behind the proposal had a strong background in ski area development and management in Queenstown Lakes dating back to the 1980s.

The project aims to create “world class” facilities, address “much needed” staff accommodation, and provide “faster and safer” access to the two ski areas via the gondola.

The Fast Track Approvals Act is designed to streamline the planning process for significant projects and ”cut through the thicket of red and green tape and the jumble of approvals processes”, according to infrastructure minister Chris Bishop.

Chris said any of the 149 listed projects can now lodge substantive applications and “expert panels will consider these applications, decide whether or not each project receives approval, and attach any necessary conditions to those approvals.”

As well as the gondola project, two other local projects - a development to establish 263 high-density units at Mt Iron Junction and the controversial Bendigo-Ophir gold mining project - were selected as listed projects.

Neither of them has made a substantive application yet.

PHOTO: Supplied