A request to establish a water reservoir for irrigation purposes by the Wānaka Golf Club (WGC) has attracted some public attention.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) recently informed the public that the WGC was one of three sports clubs in the district seeking approval to remove and replace trees.

The WGC’s resource consent application to build a water storage reservoir (comprising two interconnected ponds) on its back nine holes, north-east of the Ballantyne/Golf Course Roads intersection, included a request to remove 70 mature trees replacing them with 140 trees, plus an additional 250 plantings around the reservoir.

Many of the trees slated for removal are wilding species and the aim is to replace them with a selected mix of trees approved by the QLDC, including natives such as beech and rata to encourage diversified bird life, WGC board or directors chair David Smallbone said.

The reservoir will be treated as a natural water hazard by golfers.

“Obviously having a well landscaped pond will be a real feature on the course,” David said.

The club has two water rights allocated by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) which has already consented to the club establishing the reservoir. The back nine holes are currently irrigated from a bore and in normal seasons this adequately meets the course’s needs. 

But in dry seasons, such as the current one, it’s challenging to maintain the course well, David said.

The reservoir will allow for more efficient use of the water allocation by providing greater flexibility to better manage the course’s irrigation all year round, he said.

It also has the benefit of improved long-term sustainability of the water resource, and the club is exploring the potential of capturing rainfall to supplement the bore-fed water which supplies the reservoir, David said.

The WGC’s back nine holes are established on Crown land, gifted for the purpose of playing golf, and leased by the club. The lease agreement allows the club to develop the golf course but any improvements must be approved by the QLDC which administers the lease on behalf of the Crown.

The proposed 140 replacement trees will complement the 360 trees the WGC has already planted over the past four years.

The development, landscaping and maintenance of the club’s leased land is paid for by the club’s members.

“There is never a cost to the rate payer for anything on the golf course. The club not only maintains the reserve but pays rent and rates as well,” David said. 

QLDC declined to specify the extent or nature of the public feedback received on the tree removal (which closed on Monday March 13) but said the feedback will be included in a report to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board. 

The board is delegated to approve or decline tree removal requests in the Upper Clutha area and will consider the report at a meeting on March 30.

PHOTO: Wānaka App