The Wanaka Community Board (WCB) has asked council to provide more funding for local projects and to reprioritise key projects, particularly involving transport and roading.

In its submission to the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s draft Long-term Plan (LTP) 2021-2031, WCB chair Barry Bruce said the board wants “to support different sectors of the community” and to achieve this the WCB needs its Minor Improvements Fund (MIF) increased to $5M each year for the next 10 years. 

“The strategic direction of the plan is sound, but investment into network optimisation in Wanaka needs to be brought forward to improve service levels and community wellbeing,” he said.

Active travel was singled out as one such project. The draft LTP indicates $18.1M in funding is allocated for active travel in the Upper Clutha but the funding is not budgeted to begin until 2024.

The WCB supports the long-term vision of the plan but would like this funding not to be delayed for three years, Barry said.

“The board recognises and supports the view that active travel is an integral part of an accessible and safe network for all of our people.” 

Increasing the budget of the MIF would empower the board to bring forward investment and include other transport related planning, such as the investment in the resurfacing of unsealed roads and in long-term parking for residents who work in Wanaka’s CBD. 

Public parking on Hedditch Street, alongside Lismore Park, was identified years ago as a solution for locals who work in the town centre but it’s still not seen as a priority in the draft LTP. 

Other projects the board has identified to be reprioritised include, the Eely Point asset management plan and jetty, as well as the Stoney Creek car parking project beside Wanaka’s Watersports Facility (both currently not funded until 2024/25); and the proposed new sports and recreation hub off Ballantyne Road (not identified for funding until 2026/27).

The WCB’s MIF for the financial year 2019/2020 was $2.8M but $1.5M had to be deferred to this financial year (FY2020/2021) because identified projects hadn’t been begun or completed, including the project to upgrade the shared path beside Ballantyne Road, from Golf Course Road to Sir Tim Wallis Drive. 

Scoping work on this project began more than a year ago but heavy machinery only moved onsite this week.

On behalf of the board, Barry will also make an oral submission at next week’s (Tuesday May 11) LTP hearings which will be held in the Armstrong Room of the Lake Wanaka Centre.

A total of 46 people intend to speak to the hearings panel on individual submissions or on behalf of organisations, including community associations, the Climate Reference Group, the Lakes District Accommodation Sector, the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust and Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust.

The hearings will begin at 9:00am and are expected to continue until around 3:30pm. A day of hearings will also be held in Queenstown. 

PHOTO: Wanaka App