Heart of Wānaka steering group leader Andrew ‘Howie’ Howard has responded to criticism that the group’s vision for ‘the lakeside heart of Wānaka' does not prioritise biking and walking.

Active Transport Wānaka and Bike Wānaka member Simon Telfer says the group’s five year plan needs to put biking and walking at its centre, “[with] more cycleways into and through the town centre and more shared spaces for people on foot”.

Read more: More cycleways and pathways needed in town centre plan

“Any town centre needs people at its heart but this is currently absent from the plan,” Active Transport Wānaka and Bike Wānaka member Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App late last week.  

Howie told the Wānaka App he agrees “one hundred percent” with Simon that active transport is important, and one of the seven key design principles identified for the masterplan is “multi-mobile access” or “equitable access”.

The Heart of Wānaka steering group is made up of local representatives who want to coordinate a community-led, integrated town centre masterplan which makes the most of the Wānaka CBD.

Andrew Howard PHOTO: Supplied

It has prepared a series of draft ideas for the first round of public consultation, which will take place this week, and all residents are encouraged to contribute with their input.

“This is the start of the journey, this is not the detailed planning stage,” Howie said. “The greater detail will come later.”

“The idea of having more walking and cycling - and public transport and access for people who can’t cycle - is all part of the consideration.”

Currently the town centre is “car focused”, Howie said.

“We want to allow for and encourage active transport as well as encouraging access for all people to the town centre,” he said, pointing out that a young family from Lake Hāwea, for example, would not be able to bike to the town centre, nor would a visitor to the area who arrived in Queenstown by air.

“The biggest thing for us is to make it a welcoming space for the community.”

Other key principles the group of volunteers has identified include: A town centre that relates to the lake; recognition of the environment and ecology of the area; open community spaces; celebration of local culture and heritage; and a successful economy as the foundation for a healthy town centre.

However, the group has not come up with a detailed plan or specifics on how these will look, Howie said.

“We’re trying to get a good, clear structure of what kind of town centre the community is wanting, to hand over to the Queenstown Lakes District Council.”

“It’s not easy and part of the challenge will be getting people to agree to what that looks like, which is why we have started with pretty high level principles.

Howie encouraged locals to take part in one of the public drop in sessions for Heart of Wānaka. They will take place at the Lake Wānaka Centre tomorrow (Wednesday August 24) from 12-2pm and 5-7pm, and Friday August 26 (10-12 and 4-6pm).