Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has shared possible plans for the 8.3ha site it purchased in the Upper Clutha last year.

In December QLDC paid $3.32M for the site at 189 Ballantyne Road, which is located next to the existing Wānaka refuse transfer station (RTS) as well as the Wastebusters site. 

QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said the site offers “operational and strategic opportunities to enhance and consolidate the council’s solid waste facilities”. 

Mike Theelen says the new land purchase offers “operational and strategic opportunities to enhance and consolidate the council’s solid waste facilities”. 

It provides an opportunity for a new, fit-for-purpose transfer station in Wānaka and it will also be considered as the site for a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for the district. 

The existing RTS in Wānaka is no longer fit for purpose, Mike said. 

QLDC media and channels advisor Sam White confirmed last week that work is underway on designing a new RTS on the site.

Meanwhile, Mike said the MRF in Queenstown is also “at end of life”.

“QLDC needs to build a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for the district,” he said. “All preferred sites identified in the Queenstown basin that were identified in the business case have been demonstrated to be unsuitable.”

He said the purchase of 189 Ballantyne Road provides “a land opportunity for consideration of the district’s future MRF site”. 

It’s also one of a number of processing site options for a new kerbside green waste and food scraps bin which councillors signed off on earlier this month.

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Sam said it was too early to say for sure what the future of the site will be, aside from the RTS which is in the works.

“The most appropriate uses of the remaining land, which are likely to include complementary waste minimisation activities, will be considered in line with the Long Term Plan process, also noting there are a number of existing leases in place at the site,” he said.

“We look forward to sharing future plans for this site with the community in due course.”

PHOTOs: Supplied