Heart of Wānaka has now released its draft masterplan for the Wānaka town centre.

Since 2021 the steering group has been developing an integrated town centre plan designed to feed into the council’s planning, channel funding to where it is most needed, and improve the town centre as a destination.

Input has been sought from the public, affected groups and stakeholders to help build a picture for the future of the Wānaka town centre and the draft masterplan builds on those conversations.

Heart of Wānaka steering group chair Andrew ‘Howie’ Howard said he wanted to emphasie that the draft could be developed further.

“All feedback and input is appreciated and will be considered,” he said. 

“Working through this draft process may take some time but it is absolutely necessary to get the whole community on board and supporting this initiative.”

Howie said one of the challenges of creating the draft masterplan was tackling the “perennial issue” of parking.

Heart of Wānaka wants to hear from locals on what they think of the Wānaka town centre draft masterplan.

“In order to introduce crossings at intersections and shade trees in the streets there are proposed to be small reductions in current numbers,” he said. 

Reducing car parking on the lakefront reserve, which has been a long held goal of the Lakefront Development Plan, can be offset by providing efficient parking on Lower Ardmore, free all-day parking on Hedditch, and introducing a managed parking system, Howie said. 

“The parking options outlined in the draft will increase overall parking available to workers and customers to allow for the continued future growth of our town, while at the same time, creating a more inviting and accessible town centre,” Howie said.

Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer said the board was excited about the prospect of the town being better integrated with the lakefront and for it to be a welcoming place for people to enjoy.

“The plan’s vision for people to be at the heart of the town centre is wonderful,” he said. 

“We greatly appreciate how many volunteer hours have gone into the project and hope to be able to formally support the plan towards the middle of the year.”

Heart of Wānaka has already kicked off public engagement on the draft masterplan with a stand at the Wānaka A&P Show and two drop-in sessions.

More drop-in sessions are coming up soon - at the Lake Wānaka Centre (in the Armstrong Room,) on both April 5 and April 6, from 1.30-3.30pm - and more yet to be confirmed.

People can also have their say on the draft masterplan on the Heart of Wānaka website.

PHOTOS: Supplied