Company behind $300m Wānaka hospital supports fast-track consent

Property investment company Roa, who's behind a proposed $300 million private hospital for Wānaka, has voiced its support of the government's fast-track approvals bill in front of a select committee.

During the oral submission Roa chief operating officer Jo Fyfe told the Environment Select Committee that the hospital project is very worthy of being included in the bill because it would be demonstrably beneficial for wellbeing in the Upper Clutha. 

Roa recently applied to the Ministry for the Environment for the hospital to be included in the bill. 

Ms Fyfe told the select committee that Roa had begun the consent process with the Queenstown Lakes District Council but believed this process could take at least three years.

She anticipates the doors of the hospital could open much quicker under the fast-track consent process.

Ms Fyfe also suggested two amendments when giving her oral submission to the environment select committee, including adding the minister for the environment as a fourth decision-maker. 

Ms Fyfe says this can ensure environmental factors are "adequately considered".

Currently, the decision-makers are regional development minister Shane Jones and RMA reform, infrastructure minister Chris Bishop and transport minister Simeon Brown.

Ms Fyfe recommended the bill be amended to make it clear that "social infrastructure" such as healthcare and education projects are intended to be included in the bill's definition of infrastructure.