The third of four public consultation sessions to consider the latest proposal for stage two of Wanaka’s lakefront development will go ahead today (Saturday August 15) at the lakefront between 11:00am - 2:00pm.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff have proposed two options for the development of the lakefront land opposite Pembroke Park, from McDougall Street to Dungarvon Street.

Both concepts feature a 4m wide promenade along the lakefront but only one allows for 144 parks to replace the 120 car parks removed from the foreshore. One concept retains the 650m Millennium path in its current location, while the other concept proposes relocating the tiles to another part of the lakefront. 

Wanaka Community Board chair Barry Bruce said he attended the first two public drop-in sessions and estimated 15-20 people came to each, and more questions were raised at the WCB’s regular monthly drop-in session last week.

Barry said there were generally positive comments on the proposed concept options as well as some other options suggested, including view corridors and increased parking.

The council has already received more than 20 responses to its survey and answered another 20 questions on its letstalk page.

Some of the questions raised on the QLDC’s letstalk page related to how the two concepts fitted in with Wanaka’s Town Centre masterplan; parking provisions; flood protection, road closure; the future of the Millennium tiles; and the cost of this stage two development (estimated to be $3M).

Wanaka resident Liz Hall, who gathered 4,408 signatures on a petition in 2019 demanding the Millennium path remains where it is on the lakefront, said both options were positive for the Millennium project in that tiles will be displayed in one location or another.

She did question, however, why the option of leaving the path in situ and having car parking on Ardmore Street wasn’t proposed.

“Most of the present tiles are more than five metres from the road,” she said.

Liz also raised concerns about the council’s plan to replace the original tiles with new, more durable tiles. 

“We did a trial on shifting the tiles which was not successful as there is about nine inches of concrete beneath the tiles and many tiles shattered,” she said. “Copied tiles might work but what is the expense? They may rip up the path then decide they can’t afford the more robust copies.”

The council said if the decision is made to create new Millennium tiles, a group of council staff together with community and elected members will be formed to work on the project and determine the tiles’ content. 

The WCB and council staff are currently exploring options for the new tiles and will have some samples available for viewing in QLDC's Ardmore St office. One option is a natural clinker tile, which is very hardy and has a strong resistance to impact and thermal shock and could be etched to give an appearance very similar to the original tiles. Another option is a toughened glass tile, which can be printed to resemble the current tiles.

“Regardless of which option may be considered...we aim to honour the concept and history of the pathway, and believe new tiles could provide a dramatic improvement and help to preserve this piece of Wanaka's history,” council staff said.

The path originated as a community project designed to celebrate the new millennium (the 21st century). Local businesses, families, individuals and organisations “purchased” tiles (the total community spend was $39,000) reflecting moments in history to pay for the path, which was completed in November 2001.

Anyone who cannot attend today’s gathering at the lakefront to learn about the concepts will have another opportunity at the Three Parks New World Supermarket on August 20 between 2:00-4:00pm. 

Council will consider all the feedback received, but the final decision regarding the lakefront development will be made by the WCB.

PHOTO: Wanaka App