Upper Clutha ratepayers and residents have had enough of the inequity of council investment in Wanaka and Wakatipu.

Many locals who spoke at the draft Long-Term Plan (LTP) hearings, held in Wanaka last Tuesday (May 11), rebuked the council for the meagre or delayed funding for Wanaka projects outlined in LTP compared with the resources lavished on the other side of the hill.

In her submission, Hawea Community Association chair Cherlyn Walthew said the Upper Clutha’s population represented one third of the district yet the LTP funding indicated an overall split of 87 per cent funding to Wakatipu and 13 per cent to Wanaka.

Local resident John Wellington said the inequity between the Wanaka and Wakatipu wards needs to be urgently addressed.

“I believe the Wanaka community is tired of submitting to the council for crumbs off the table, when the starters, mains and desserts have all been dished out in the draft planning stage,” he said in a personal statement.

John suggested the inequity stemmed from an unconscious bias due to the centralisation of council staff in Queenstown and that the mayor and most elected council members resided in the Wakatipu Ward.

“You're here to represent a whole district, not just the Queenstown ward that you're elected in,” he reminded the councillors. 

As an example he pointed to Wanaka’s active transport funding which, once again, has been deferred for years in the draft LTP while millions continue to be allocated to Queenstown’s active transport network. 

“There’s clearly an unintentional systemic bias in the way council manages the district that favours Queenstown. This has been highlighted more than usual by this current 10-year plan.”

The Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) LTP allocates funding for council infrastructure projects, services, operations and activities over the coming 10 years from 2021-2031, ranging from three waters (wastewater, stormwater and drinking water) and transportation (roading, public and active) to libraries and swimming pools.

Wanaka-based QLDC councillor Niamh Shaw said of the 503 written submissions to the draft plan, 311 were from Upper Clutha residents.

“I am pleased and grateful that so many of our community took the time and effort to submit, and particularly those who came to share their feedback in person.”

“Reading through the submissions, what struck me is that the vast majority of our community is singing the same song in terms of council’s response to climate change, prioritisation of active and public transport in this area, and equity of investment - particularly in the smaller communities,” she said. 

“There was also some robust feedback around common themes such as engagement and consultation, transparency and trust.” 

In March, when the councillors were deciding whether or not to adopt the draft plan for public consultation, she had recognised these same themes, describing the LTP as “untenable”, and had voted against it.

She said a year ago council had listened to submissions to its Annual Plan in which submitters had overwhelmingly wanted funding priorities to be reviewed; for the community to be listened to and not just heard.

“I don’t feel many of these sentiments are captured in this consultation document,” she said.

“I will be advocating that the [LTP] better meets the expectations of the Upper Clutha community.” 

The final LTP will be presented to councillors for adoption next month and will come into effect from July 1.

PHOTO: Wanaka App