Progress is being made on a project between Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Willowridge Developments to create a 20ha grassed site at 101 Ballantyne Road.

The site was earmarked long ago for much-needed sports fields for the Upper Clutha but little funding was allocated for the project in the recent Long Term Plan (LTP).

Now, a collaboration with the local developer means it could get going much sooner than expected.

The details of the proposed agreement are not public but council staff hinted at what the outcome could look like at Thursday’s (October 10) Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) meeting.

The goal is to turn the former oxidation ponds site into a “green canvas”, QLDC community services general manager Ken Bailey said.

“It will be the largest open space dedicated to sport and recreation across the district.”

QLDC sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick told the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) at Thursday’s (October 10) meeting he “needed to emphasise that the outcome of these works will not give us sports fields”.

“We will need to look at how we work with the community to see what we can do in that space.”

The project, he indicated, would include remediation of contamination of the council-owned site, earthworks and site-flattening to provide a platform for future sports fields.

Sports field shortages in the Upper Clutha are long-running and well-documented, with a growing number of clubs and members competing for use of limited fields.

Many clubs urged council to bring forward funding for the development of sports fields at the site during Long Term Plan hearings in August.

At that same hearing, Willowridge Developments director Allan Dippie told elected members he wanted the development of 101 Ballantyne Road to be the company’s “major community project”.

Simon said the collaboration would lead to a “really fantastic outcome” for the community and thanked Willowridge, and Central Machine Hire (which is also owned by Allan Dippie).

WUCCB chair Simon Telfer thanked staff for moving “with agility” on the opportunity to collaborate.

The board unanimously agreed to recommend the council enter into the agreement.

PHOTO: Wānaka App