Final development plans for Lismore Park and Peninsula Bay Reserve prioritise native planting, open spaces and enhancing existing amenities.

The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) will consider the plans (high-level design concepts created to guide their development) at a meeting today (Thursday February 8). 

Together Lismore Park and Peninsula Bay Reserve make up more than 40 hectares of centrally located, public land. 

Lismore Park features a bike park and a disc golf course and serves as a thoroughfare connecting the CBD with the high school and residential area, while Peninsula Bay Reserve has  a mix of open grassy areas and shrubby kanuka, with informal tracks weaving through it. 

Late last year draft development plans for the reserves were shared with the community and feedback has informed the final plans, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) community services general manager Ken Bailey said.

“In general, the submissions acknowledged that the proposed designs take a light-handed approach and focus on enhancing amenities to support the reserves’ existing uses,” he said.

For Peninsula Bay, submitters raised concerns over conflict between cyclists and walkers on the same trails, access to windsurfers beach and the protection of existing vegetation.

As a result the final plan includes the removal of any language discouraging walkers from the mountain bike trails, clearer reference to the retention of the windsurfer vehicle access, and an added note that existing vegetation will be retained. 

An artist’s impression of the lookout point at Peninsula Bay.

For Lismore Park, submitters supported the creation of a hub adjacent to the bike park with seating, toilets, rubbish bins and drinking fountains; and the replacement of pine trees with native planting, and formalised car parking; while views on the disc golf course were mixed.

The final development plan for Lismore Park includes the addition of a number of parking spaces, reference to the 18-hole disc golf course remaining as it is, not expanding, and removal of some of the proposed planting to retain the open space. 

Ken said the development plans provide a “clear direction and vision” on the two reserves.

They “capture the vision and objectives to create community spaces that are well designed, multi-purpose, accessible, meet the needs of the community and preserve the natural and cultural values”.

If the plans are approved by the community board today, detailed design and implementation would still need to be funded through future annual and long term plans. 

Find more information about the two development plans at the QLDC website here.

IMAGES: Supplied