The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) says it wants the community’s ‘bold ideas’ after confirmation a fund for local projects is set for a sizeable deposit.

The sale of the final slice of council-owned land at Scurr Heights may push the value of the Wānaka Asset Sales Reserve (WASR) to “up to eight figures”, WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said.

And with new guidelines giving the WUCCB the “ability to influence” use of the fund, now is the time for the community to share its big ideas, Simon said.

“We want our partners in the community coming to us with…really bold community ideas,” Simon said at yesterday’s (Thursday May 8) WUCCB meeting.

The WASR has always been earmarked for Wānaka projects - and its funds have helped enable things like the Wānaka pool and Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) purchase of Mt Iron - but the new guidelines provide a “really clear pathway for decision making”, Simon said.

They help clarify roles, strengthen governance, and better align the WASR with strategic priorities and legacy outcomes, according to QLDC, and the new guidelines say the WUCCB “plays a key role as a strategic partner in ensuring that the WASR is used effectively for community benefit”.

WASR funds have supported projects like the Wānaka pool and the purchase of Mt Iron, and WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told the board he wants to hear from the community on bold ideas. PHOTO: Supplied

Board members celebrated the milestone at yesterday’s meeting.

WUCCB member John Wellington said most members stood for the idea to reempower the board - “and this is a step towards that”.

Councillor Cody Tucker said the board’s previous role was “like a Santa Claus with very limited money or no elves”, however, with the changes to the WASR guidelines, the board “has the chance to have real power”.

The WASR has around $3.4M in it at present and the remaining Scurr Heights land could be “ready to market” by spring, according to a QLDC representative.