An underpass will connect golfers to either side of the Glendhu Golf Course - but only if members of the public travelling by foot or bike can use it too.

Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road runs roughly through the centre of the 100-hectare-or-so golf course site.

At last month’s meeting council staff asked the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) to green-light the underpass to be used by course members, by granting a licence to occupy road reserve, but WUCCB member John Wellington pushed back.

Not including pedestrian use of the underpass “...goes against the whole principle of the decision the Environment Court made”, John said.

John was referencing a 2012 decision by judge Jon Jackson, which formed part of the protracted more than 17 year battle to get the golf course (also billed to include a clubhouse, visitor accommodation and 42 residences) off the ground.

In his decision, the judge upheld Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) original land-use consent after appellees agreed to provide extra ‘environmental compensation’ via habitat protection, planting plans, public access including walking and cycling tracks, and more.

At last month’s meeting John questioned a QLDC staffer about why the Environment Court ruling had not been taken into account.

The WUCCB resolved to grant the licence to occupy, subject to chair’s approval that the intent of the Environment Court decision around walking and biking use of the underpass was upheld.

The final Environment Court decision on the golf course came four years after QLDC initially approved the proposal and seven years after the golf course development was first announced - in a collaboration by Glendhu Station owners and Darby Partners - in 2005.

Consents required to commence construction were granted in September 2022 and the first players are expected to tee off at the new course in 2025.

Darby Partners say the 18-hole championship course is being designed and constructed to championship standards.

PHOTO: Supplied