A very visual piece of Wanaka history was removed from the lakefront yesterday morning (Tuesday September 8).

The Log Cabin on Lake Wānaka’s Roys Bay foreshore had been in place for 23 years, operating as a base for multiple small businesses including a cafe and the Lake Wānaka i-Site.

Simon and Danni Stewart own the Log Cabin. Simon used to operate his recreational water-based activity business Lakeland Adventures from the site but in 2016 he sold the business, which now trades under the name of LakeLand Wanaka.

The 20-year lease of the foreshore site on which the cabin stands expired in September 2017 and the Stewarts could not reach an agreement with the Queenstown Lakes District Council over a new lease. 

The log cabin ready to roll. PHOTO: Angus Rowley

The council’s lease remained on a monthly rolling tenancy while the council negotiated with the Stewarts.

The issue was Wanaka’s Lakefront Development Plan, adopted in 2016, which had no place for the Log Cabin.

Simon said while he doesn’t disagree with some of the foreshore development plans, he didn’t think the area around the Log Cabin “had any problems whatsoever”.

The newly clear lakefront site. PHOTO: Wanaka App

“We considered ourselves custodians of that little area. We actually saved the odd life from time to time; the position gave us the ability to mount a very quick response from SAR,” he said.

“Buildings have been a part of that part of the lake shore for years and years,” Simon said. “There’s been a long history, dating back to 1878 or so, of buildings supporting boats plying the lakes servicing sheep stations. There has been more of that latterly as tourists numbers grew.”

Simon said the Log Cabin’s purpose was to withstand floods, provide office and storage facilities, and be a go-to place for people seeking family fun on the water.

The lakefront, and shed, in 1885. IMAGE: Supplied

The council is trying to create a family friendly environment on the lakefront, he said, adding that the multiple businesses based at the Log Cabin “were all providing activities that were friendly and for families”.

“But the council decided in their wisdom the log cabin did not suit the lakefront plan, and it had to go.”

Yesterday Simon and Danni had the cabin removed three kilometres to their property on Riverbank Road, an exercise costing “tens of thousands of dollars” taking account of the costs of resource consents to move the building and deposit it.

“This has been a draining, expensive experience,” Simon said. 

In May this year the Wanaka Community Board granted a lakeside reserve license to Lakeland Adventures on the Roys Bay land where the Log Cabin sat. The business will have a branded eight to nine metre trailer on-site (removed in the evenings), a towing vehicle and the ability to rent lake equipment and sell guided commercial tours from the site.