Submissions have been invited from the public on new changes to Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) updated Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice.QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the latest updates to the Code of Practice would ensure infrastructure across subdivisions and developments was “functional, consistent, able to be operated and maintained safely, and built using best practice”.“The changes we’re proposing have a particular focus on stormwater management to lessen environmental effects and ensure stormwater systems built today are suitable for the future,” Tony said.“Given a significant portion of the infrastructure council owns and manages is installed by developers and their contractors, the Code of Practice provides clear guidelines and standards to be met to ensure this infrastructure meets local conditions and our community’s expectations.”Overall, stage three of the draft Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice has more than 130 proposed changes, including updates to the standard drawing set; new appendices; specific parameters for assessing and designing for stormwater catchments; and additional requirements and methods for designing and using stormwater treatment and soakage devices.The changes are part of the third stage of a review which has been underway since 2020.The draft Code of Practice is available on QLDC’s consultation website Let’s Talk and upon request in council offices, and comes complete with current guidelines and proposed changes clearly marked.Feedback can be made by emailing [email protected] up until Sunday October 6. Once staff have reviewed and considered all feedback, the draft Code of Practice will go before QLDC’s Infrastructure Committee for endorsement in November, then to full council for adoption in December this year.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Two members of Wānaka’s Better Building Working Group have spoken at the Registered Master Builders Association Constructive Conference in Wellington, taking the group’s message of smarter building to a wider audience.The Better Building Working Group, which was established after the 2018 Wao Summit, consists of more than 40 members - architects, builders, tradies, developers, suppliers and mental health experts.Its vision is for better building, zero waste, and mental health and wellbeing.Steering committee member Monique Kelly, who spoke at the Wellington conference with fellow committee member Aaron Thule, told the Wānaka App that being invited to speak was recognition of the group’s work in tackling construction waste and educating on “climate smart” building.Better Building steering committee member Monique Kelly. “It was an amazing opportunity to represent the group at Constructive and talk about how we're slowly and quietly getting on with shifting the system in the Southern Lakes,” she said. “Our local action is now starting to have a ripple effect into national thinking.”But, she said, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed by the need for change in the building sector.“While navigating a slowing economy, we're faced with the urgency to build hundreds of thousands of affordable, climate-smart houses to deal not only with the current housing shortage, but also start to prepare for future population projections.”Meanwhile, Monique said, the government is “kicking the can down the road” on housing. “They've stopped all of the Kainga Ora housing projects, which has suddenly dried up the pipeline of work of many building companies around New Zealand and put our ability to build enough houses for our future population into jeopardy.”Monique said that leaves the onus on housing trusts such as the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust to “pick up the slack”.“They've also put on hold the proposed Building for Climate Change amendments to the Building Act which is needed to make us on par with other OECD nations.”“We seriously need some long term, cross part thinking in how we are going to build communities into the future,” she said.Monique said build-to-rent models are available, and communities need to “think outside the box” when it comes to building smarter and more efficiently.Social innovation at a local level is also required, she said. “The Better Building Working Group facilitated by Wao is an example of how this can happen in the real world.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Queenstown Airport has released its financial report for the 12 months to 30 June 2024, which shows a strong operating performance.Queenstown Airport Corporation Board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper announced the board of directors has approved a total dividend for the 2024 financial year of $19.6M – the highest the company has ever paid. An interim dividend of $5.3M was paid to shareholders in February, and the remainder will be distributed this month, she said.“It has been another positive year, with record revenue and passenger numbers. The results confirm the company’s strong recovery from the pandemic and are in line with forecast activity levels.” QAC board chair Adrienne Young-CooperThe report shows the revenue growth over the previous financial year (FY23 ) is 8.5 percent. Passenger movements increased almost five percent over FY23, and the dividend is up 26 percent on FY23 ($15.54M). Adrienne said demand for seats on trans-Tasman flights was noteworthy, while domestic demand remained steady. “We know those flights bring many social and economic benefits for the people and businesses of the Southern Lakes region. Furthermore, they enable us to make a meaningful financial contribution to our community.”Queenstown Lakes District Council holds 75.01 percent of QAC shares, so its portion of the annual dividend is $14.7 million, which equates to about $485 per ratepayer.Adrienne said QAC had delivered more than $35M in dividends since the Covid-19 pandemic.“We are pleased to be in a position to pay a higher than normal dividend this year ahead of significant investment in our infrastructure.”‘Significant’ infrastructure investment for airportAirport chief executive Glen Sowry said a highlight of the year was the completion of a master plan which will guide considerable investment in infrastructure at Queenstown Airport over the coming decade.Airport CEO Glen SowryDevelopment plans for the airfield, the terminal, the landside spaces around the terminal, and services and utilities are now underway, and the resultant capital works programme “will be the largest ever undertaken at Queenstown Airport”, Glen said. The first major project is the installation of an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) at either end of the main runway, beginning later this month.Glen said Queenstown was the first airport in New Zealand and Australia to install the safety technology, “which exceeds compliance with civil aviation regulations and is a tangible demonstration of our determination to surpass expectations”.Projects in the past financial year include the installation of extra self-service technology, an increase in passenger screening capacity, the opening of a new cafe and bar, and upgrade of the international departure lounge. A bathroom refurbishment programme is underway and Glen said the heating and cooling system is also being upgraded.The company’s annual general meeting will be held in October, when the board and executive team will report on the past financial year, as well as providing an outlook for the year ahead.Adrienne will retire from the board after the AGM, having served the maximum two terms.The full annual report is available to download here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Two new marketing professionals will help Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) strengthen its team and drive the organisation’s destination marketing efforts, the organisation says.With Nadia Ellis and Shannon Kelly joining the team, LWT now has a team of highly talented and very experienced people, LWT head of destination Gizelle Regan said.“These appointments round out the LWT team and we are looking forward to seeing the contributions that both Nadia and Shannon can make to deliver on destination marketing objectives, championing the organisation's plans for the second half of 2024 and beyond.”Nadia has been appointed as the LWT head of marketing on a six-month, part-time contract and Shannon Kelly joins as the new LWT marketing executive.Nadia brings nearly 20 years’ experience shaping New Zealand ski and tourism brands.Her primary focus at LWT will be developing and overseeing destination marketing activities and ensuring messaging aligns with regenerative tourism objectives. Shannon is a professional who brings a keen eye for graphic design, a passion for the Wānaka region and is looking forward to helping drive value based marketing campaigns, LWT said.LWT acting board chair Andrea Kendrick said the appointments and the new shared services model with Destination Queenstown (where the two organisations will retain independent brands but collaborate on some functions) make it an exciting time for LWT.“We now have a very experienced, dedicated team with a wide range of complementary skills that will enable the regional tourism organisation to deliver on key objectives more effectively,” she said.Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) is a regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) responsible for destination marketing and destination management. Read more: Regional tourism organisations join forcesPHOTO: Chris Searl

Ray White Wānaka has a new business partner with Anneke Kawau joining Duncan and Kelly Good at the real estate ageny. Anneke started at Ray White Invercargill as a personal assistant and has been the managing director for the past two years.Anneke will join Ray White Wānaka as a business owner and general manager. “We are super excited to join forces with Anneke in a partnership with aligned values, aspirational goals, motivation and drive,” Kelly said. “She will bring a wealth of knowledge from her experience building a highly successful real estate team and also from managing and growing the Ray White Invercargill business and the salespeople within it as well.” Duncan and Kelly GoodAnneke said she, her husband Jason, and her three children were all very excited about taking this next step.“I am super excited to get to know the team at Ray White Wānaka, listen to their ambitions and help them to achieve it all,” she said.“In terms of the business, if we can replicate the growth trajectory that we created in Invercargill, and then double down, it will be an exciting place filled with ambition, success and positive vibes.“I feel the growth potential in a place like Wānaka is uncapped so I am looking forward to seeing what's possible.”Ray White New Zealand chief executive Daniel Coulson welcomed the partnership between Duncan, Kelly and Anneke.“Anneke is an asset to the Ray White New Zealand family, and has been a huge part in establishing the growth of the Ray White Invercargill business,” he said. “Her strong work ethic and vibrant nature will be a fantastic addition to the already successful Ray White Wanaka business. PHOTOS: Supplied

Scapegrace Distilling, on the banks of Lake Dunstan, has celebrated three major medal wins at the World Whisky Masters whisky competition.The 2024 World Whisky Masters were held in London last week, and Scapegrace’s Single Malt Anthem Whisky was awarded the prestigious gold medal.Scapegrace’s Vanguard and Fortuna Single Malt each picked up a silver medal.Scapegrace co-founder Mark Neal said the team was thrilled with the recognition.“This is one of the world’s most highly acclaimed whisky events so to win not one, but three medals is fantastic,” he said.“This is a huge win for our international reputation and again shows that Scapegrace’s range of single malt is up there with the best in the world.”Neal says Anthem showcases the best of New Zealand, having been distilled and cut with pristine New Zealand glacial waters and made using locally grown barley.“Anthem is a highland malt-esk whisky which is rich, elegant and subtle. One of the unique features of the products is the inclusion of Manuka smoked malt, from New Zealand’s native Manuka plants, which is used instead of peat.“The smokiness we get from Manuka is complex and dry, with eucalyptus, menthol and forest floor style notes. These intricacies help to bring a lighter and more versatile smoke to our whisky that also lets the cereal from our new make shine in a balanced profile.”Mark said Scapegrace was proud to be leading the way in new world whisky from New Zealand.The World Whiskey Masters is recognised as the world's most highly regarded spirits blind-tasting competition globally.In 2018 Scapegrace Gin was voted World’s Best London Dry Gin at the prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition.The award caps a big few months for Scapegrace, with the brand recently landing a major distribution deal with leading UK supermarket chain Waitrose. Scapegrace has also recently partnered with Air New Zealand, with both Scapegrace and Rogue Society spirits served both inflight and in airline lounges.PHOTO: Supplied

An economic diversification plan aims to help the district move away from its reliance on the tourism and construction industries and help ‘future proof’ the local economy.According to a 2020 report by economist Benje Patterson, Queenstown Lakes is the least economically diverse district in the entire country.More than 60 percent of all workers over the last decade were employed in tourism or construction. Only 45 percent of residents say there is a long-term career path for them in the district. Mean earnings in Queenstown Lakes are also 12 percent lower than the national average and the cost of housing is almost twice the national average.Endorsed by councillors at last week’s full council meeting, the Queenstown Lakes Economic Diversification Plan is designed to help take on some of these challenges by fostering a wider range of industries and career opportunities.As well as Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), 18 other organisations have committed to the plan, which has an overarching goal to create “a resilient and sustainable economy offering a diverse range of career and income opportunities by 2040”.Actions within the plan, which sit under three ‘key pillars’, range from attracting, retaining and growing tech companies in the district to developing training opportunities that boost the capability of the existing workforce and identifying potential niche industries and supporting them to grow.Wānaka-based councillor Cody Tucker told the Wānaka App the plan, to him, was about creating “a hopeful future for young people to have a meaningful place here”.Councillor Cody Tucker says he wants younger people to have “a hopeful future” within Queenstown Lakes. PHOTO: Deanna GerlachHe wants more options for “meaningful” work which also keeps pace with the cost of living.QLDC economic development manager Peter Harris presented the plan to councillors last week and he stressed that the “long-term” plan would require a “collaborative effort”.Councillor Nikki Gladding questioned the value for money of the plan, which has a $0.5M budget, excluding salaries.“It's a big plan and it's hard to see where the money is going and if it's value for money from the public’s perspective,” she said. “Councillors need to have oversight.”Fellow councillor Lisa Guy noted that it was a “very large train to be driving”.QLDC staff will report back to councillors on progress on the plan every six months.Read more about the Queenstown Lakes Economic Diversification Plan here.

It’s hard to make the perfect pie, but Kai Pai Bakery on Frederick Street struck gold with its mince and cheese at the national Bakels Supreme Pie Awards earlier this week (July 30).Wānaka-based business Kai Pai Bakery is officially the best commercial pie maker in the country, taking out the top award for the Commercial/Wholesale category at the 27th national pie awards. Kai Pai has a history of success at the Bakels Awards, winning more than 21 Top 10 awards since 2018, but it’s the first time that Kai Pai has ever won gold in this category.  Kai Pai’s head baker Jason Danielson said the win highlights the bakery’s ongoing commitment to continue creating quality pies.“We’re thrilled to be acknowledged as one of the best commercial pie providers in the country, which means a lot, especially with such a high calibre of entries this year,” Jason said.   “This award reflects the whole team’s hard work to craft the perfect mince and cheese pie that every Kiwi can enjoy, regardless of where they are in the country.”The bakery’s pies are widely stocked across the country, including distribution to Foodstuffs supermarkets, Bidfood retailers and Night & Day stores nationwide.   Entrants need to commercially manufacture on average 60,000 single-serve pies (in a six-day week), enter pies that weigh less than 280gm each, are mechanically constructed and carry no brand identification, to qualify for the Commercial/Wholesale category. “With commercial manufacturing, it's important that every pie is the same and that’s what we strive towards, without compromising on quality and flavour,” Jason said.Kai Pai Bakery started out making just 1,000 handcrafted pies a day but now with a team of 40 people it produces up to 38,000 pies a day from its Wānaka premises, making it one of the largest family-owned and operated bakeries in the South Island.   “We’re blown away by the ongoing support from our loyal customers and the businesses we work with – this award is a nod to them,” Jason said.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The supreme winner at the last Wānaka Business Excellence Awards is encouraging local businesses to put themselves forward and enter this year.Matt Williams, the director and regional manager at Bachelor McDougall Consulting (BMC) which won the supreme award in 2022, says the hardest part is making the decision to enter.“We found the hardest part was actually putting ourselves forward for the award in the first place, and once you get over that and decide to do it the rest is easy,” he said.The 2022 awards were the first time BMC had entered any awards and Matt said the experience has been hugely beneficial for the company.“It reaffirmed that the journey we were on was the right one,” Matt said.“Our advice is just to do it.”Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said the awards are an opportunity for businesses to celebrate.“It’s time to celebrate the wins your business has had over the last couple of years,” he said."We've worked hard to rework the awards to make them fit for purpose for all businesses."Glenn said each category has an average of six questions to ensure the entry process is concise and not time-consuming."It is a simple process. We've tried to streamline it as much as possible - there is still a robust set of questions but it is achievable," Glenn said.Entries to the Wānaka Business Excellence Awards close on August 6 and Glenn said he can see a lot of entries in progress on the awards platform.“We're expecting a large influx of submissions during this last week,” he said.Entries can be submitted here.Listen to Matt on The Outlet Podcast.PHOTO: The Film Crew

An initiative between Queenstown, Invercargill and Dunedin airports encourages people to explore the lower half of the South Island. ‘Southern Way’, which is also in collaboration with eight southern Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs), encourages visitors to use the airline’s multistop booking tool to fly into one of the three airports, rent a vehicle to explore the region, then fly out of another airport.“We’re excited by the opportunities this opens up, and we believe there are real benefits for everyone in spreading visitors widely around the region, rather than having them concentrated in a few hotspots,” Queenstown Airport acting chief executive Todd Grace said.“This is a meaningful way of supporting the regenerative tourism aspirations of our community and the lower South alongside Dunedin and Invercargill airports.”Southern Way project manager Sanae Herd said the initiative encourages visitors to have longer, lower-impact stays.“All of the RTOs involved are excited to have Air New Zealand and the Southern Airports Alliance fully engaged with this approach and working with us to facilitate visitors moving more widely around the regions and thereby reducing the risks of overcrowding and pressure point,” she said. ‘One trip to see it all’ is the slogan for the campaign.A dedicated Southern Way page on the Air New Zealand website is offering itinerary suggestions and inspiration to help people to plan and book a trip that suits their timeframes and interests.The initiative is the product of a cooperative agreement that Queenstown, Dunedin, and Invercargill airports entered into in 2019, a first of its kind in New Zealand. The purpose of the agreement is to foster a collaborative working relationship across the airports of the lower South and make a positive contribution to the region by exploring opportunities to undertake joint initiatives.PHOTO: Air New Zealand

In this episode of The Outlet podcast we speak with Matt Williams, director and regional manager at Bachelor McDougall Consulting (BMC).BMC won the supreme award at the 2022 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards and Matt shares the transformative experience of winning and the boost it provided to internal morale and client relationships.Learn how the recognition validated BMC's transition from a small, individually-focused firm to one with strong governance and operational management. Matt also offers practical advice for companies considering entering the awards and discusses BMC's plans to enhance its governance skills and seek new opportunities. This episode is a powerful testament to how unwavering commitment to strong business values can lead to outstanding achievements.Listen to The Outlet Wānaka

Wānaka homes have earned a slew of accolades at the Southern House of the Year Awards 2024, including the supreme house of the year award.The annual competition recognises the best homes and those who brought them to life.The central Wānaka ‘Sanctuary Central’ took out the top award, with judges complimenting the “meticulously crafted and adaptable 309sqm home”.Inside ‘Sanctuary Central’, which judges called “a house that intrigues”. PHOTO: Samuel HartnettThe home’s street facing facade is “deliberately abstract” and hints at the “truly beautiful” three bedrooms and four courtyards that lie beyond, judges said.“Flow doesn’t come close to describing the way the interior transitions to the outdoor zones.“The relationship between the components of the house and the sanctuary as a whole is emblematic of the collaboration between Level Construction and architects Roberts Gray.”The supreme award was one of five awards ‘Sanctuary Central’ earned, from a total of nearly four dozen awards across categories celebrating everything from houses at different price points to sustainability, outdoor excellence and interior design, plus the sought-after gold, silver and bronze awards celebrating excellence in construction.This Dunlop Builders' “long, low and cool”, Brick House combined understated elegance, energy-efficiency and “top-drawer craftsmanship, judges said. PHOTO: Caydn Thomson, ImageWorks The “long, low and cool” 307sqm Brick House, built by Dunlop Builders, combines “understated elegance”, energy-efficiency with a Passive House Plus rating and “top-drawer craftsmanship at every turn”.The house, in the $2M-$4M category, earned a gold award (for homes which achieve 90 percent of the available points and are judged to be at least 80 percent above industry standard) and the Regional APL Environmental & Sustainable Excellence award.At a lower price point ($750,000-$1M), “strong lines and intriguing angles” earned a 190sqm Northlake home a regional category award and a gold award.“Strong lines and intriguing angles” were hallmarks of this Wānaka home built by Buildcraft. PHOTO: Caydn Thomson, ImageWorksJudges said the house, built by Buildcraft, epitomised refined living “thanks to quality materials, timeless features and workmanship by builders at the top of their game”. Another four Wānaka homes received the prestigious gold award, including an expansive family home built to take in the site’s 360 views (built by Bayview Construction); a “soulful retreat” with lake views (built by Integrity Homes); a huge 507sqm home with “endless views” (built by CDL Building); and a three-bedroom home with “everything you need to live the good life (built by Jennian Homes). This “soulful” retreat built by Integrity Homes earned a gold award, one of seven for Wānaka homes to receive the award. PHOTO: Caydn Thomson, ImageWorksFind full details of all the homes and awards from the Southern House of the Year Awards 2024 here.

The impact of Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow on the regional economy over the past 36 years has cracked the $300M mark, the Warbirds management team has estimated. This Easter’s airshow - the first in six years - generated more than $40M for the regional economy, according to its 2024 Economic Impact Assessment Report.Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshows Ltd chair Paul Moodie said a “conservative estimate” of the economic impact over the event’s lifetime has put the total impact at around $305M.  “There are numerous community groups which benefit financially from being involved in helping deliver the airshow,” he said.“For some of these it’s a significant part of their fund-raising every couple of years. We are also extremely proud of our free community lakeside airshow which attracts thousands of people.”Paul said the 2024 Economic Impact Assessment Report includes some encouraging statistics for the event. “Our overall satisfaction rating was 98 percent which was up on the last airshow in 2018. Numbers-wise we welcomed some 64,800 guests over the three days (up 18 percent on 2018) with the Saturday and Sunday of the airshow selling out. “There was a drop in the number of international visitors but this was more than made up for by a surge in the numbers of Kiwis attending.” Paul added that 45 percent of visitors were attending the Wānaka airshow for the first time, which bodes well for the future.He said parking and traffic management was identified as an area of concern, and airshow management is talking with various parties around how this can be improved for 2026, including offering more alternative transport options. Paul said the management team is now planning for Easter 2026 with confidence. “Many long-time airshow participants and visitors reckon 2024 was the best Wanaka airshow ever. The pressure is now on the team to beat it.” The next airshow will be held in 2026 from April 3-5, with tickets going on sale in early July next year.

The past two weeks of school holidays have presented “a mixed experience” for local retailers, Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat says.He estimated that trading could be down as much as 30 to 40 percent compared to the 2023 July school holidays.“While some businesses, particularly certain cafes and shops, have seen consistent foot traffic and sales, others have experienced quieter periods,” Glenn told the Wānaka App.He said the variability could be attributed to several factors, including fluctuating weather conditions affecting ski field operations and visitor patterns, as well as broader economic considerations affecting consumer spending habits.“In discussions with business owners we have received comments from some local businesses indicating that trading could be down as much as 30-40 percent compared to the July school holidays last year,” Glenn said.Read more: Happy holidays for skiers PHOTO: Supplied

Locals have plenty to say, both good and bad, about McDonald’s proposal for a 24/7 restaurant and drive-through on Wānaka’s outskirts.Twenty-seven submissions have been made to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) since public feedback on the proposal opened last Friday (July 12).Opinions range from saying McDonald’s would “change the face of Wānaka” for the worse, at one end, to commenting that “a bit of competition” on takeaway prices would do no harm, at the other.More than a dozen submitters have opposed the proposal so far; around half a dozen support it; and another half a dozen-or-so say they are open to it if certain changes are made.Key themes from the ‘No McDonald’s’ camp were concerns about litter and packaging, the financial impact on local food businesses, the nutritional value of McDonalds’ food, and the visual effect of the McDonald’s restaurant and signage at the ‘entrance’ to Wānaka.Many submitters also referenced a view that a McDonald’s restaurant was at odds with the “core community values” of the town, as one person put it. Another said it was “not what our town represents”.At the opposite end, one submitter said it was “ironic” to suggest McDonald’s would “spoil the community”.“We already have takeaway burgers, chips and other fast foods here who use wrappers for their products. Are they a significant issue and would McDonald’s really be?”Other submitters in support said a McDonald’s would provide employment opportunities, an affordable takeaway option, and a family-friendly, alcohol-free environment for events like children’s birthdays and post-sports gatherings.Five of the six on-the-fence submitters said they were opposed to the proposed location (near the intersection of SH6/SH84) rather than the McDonald’s, which they said would be better suited at Three Parks.All submissions so far have been made by individuals, aside from one by the Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES), which focuses mostly on the planning rules for the site.The proposal - billed for rural-zoned land - “fails to meet a number of District Plan provisions when it is assessed against the Rural Zone objectives, policies, assessment matters and rules in the Proposed District Plan”, UCES said.News of plans for a local McDonald’s restaurant in November last year attracted significant public attention and more than 1,500 people signing ‘Stop Wānaka McDonald’s’ petition within days.The petition now has more than 5,500 signatories, but few of those people have gone on to make a formal submission so far.Anyone who would like to make a submission on the proposed Wānaka McDonald’s has until August 9 to do so. Find information on how to submit here.PHOTO: Supplied

A new, streamlined services model will help the district’s regional tourism organisations (RTOs) deliver more value for members, Lake Wānaka Tourism’s (LWT) board chair says.LWT and Destination Queenstown (DQ) have announced the new model for the 2024/2025 financial year, under which the RTOs will retain their own brand, governance and operations but take a regionwide approach to some functions.Those functions include human resources, administration, finance and others, where shared services will help the organisations gain efficiencies and improve structure, DQ CEO Mat Woods said.It will also help them to “maximise value, provide the environment for collaboration, create an improved structure to deliver on [Destination Management Plan] projects at a region wide level, and lead to alignment and efficiencies across conventional marketing work”, he said.Read more: New tourism plan adopted for districtLWT board chair Calum MacLeod said the streamlined model would mean more value from the targeted tourism levy and the member dollar would go further.“Shared services and sharing capabilities will lead to shared expertise across the region rather than doubling up on key capability areas,” Calum said. “As sister regions, more can be achieved by working together and taking a collaborative approach.”Gizelle Regan, who has moved into the head of destination role at LWT (which replaces the chief executive role Tim Barke departed from in April) says the shared services model will also bring more opportunities for members.“Critically LWT members will get access to a wider range of services as part of this model which they can’t currently afford independently,” she said.Both office locations will remain as they are currently to ensure a local RTO presence in both communities and the Wānaka iSite, which LWT owns, will remain a standalone and independent business.The shared services arrangement will be reviewed twice annually to ensure it is delivering benefits for both RTOs.Read more: Milestone for regenerative tourism initiativePHOTO: Lake Wānaka Tourism

Locals will be able to have their say on McDonalds’ controversial bid for a Wānaka restaurant from this Friday (July 12). Plans for a Wānaka McDonald’s restaurant operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, were made public in November last year, to a divided reception from locals.On Friday the McDonald’s resource consent application will be publicly notified, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) confirmed today (Tuesday July 9).This means members of the public will have the opportunity to share their views on the proposal formally by making a submission with the council.More than 1,500 people signed the ‘Stop Wānaka McDonald’s’ petition within days of the company’s plans becoming public last year, and signatories have now increased to more than 5,500.The company submitted a resource consent application for a 445m2 restaurant and drive-through on Wānaka’s outskirts in November last year.Aspiring Law director Janice Hughes said a petition does not have any impact on a resource consent application, but it “might encourage people to put in a submission”.Petition creator Sarah Morrison told the Wānaka App she planned to make a public submission and encourage other signatories to do the same.She said McDonald’s goes against “all of our core community values”.“Wānaka tends to pride itself on being a health and wellness-centred place… Having fast food restaurants in town directly contradicts that,” she said. In its application McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd said the proposed 445m2 restaurant and drive-through, which would be located just off the SH6/SH84 roundabout, would “give rise to significant positive effects”.They included “the development of a high-quality, architecturally-designed commercial building, which will be visually integrated within the environment” and “support for the local economy by enabling employment and increased spending in the area”.The company has volunteered that its application be publicly notified, QLDC said.All applicants will have to meet the information requirements of the Resource Management Act for lodging an application.More information on the application and details on how to make a submission will be available here from Friday.PHOTOS: Supplied

A project to understand optimal tourism visitation in the Queenstown Lakes region has launched.A team of researchers from Griffith University has been appointed to lead the project, which will seek to create an optimal visitation model to assist scenario planning and decision-making within the district, the Destination Southern Lakes (DSL) board has announced DSL (which is responsible for governance of the district’s destination management plan) has called the project a “world first”.DSL chair Murray Strong said understanding optimal visitation is “ground-breaking work”.“At present, there are no comprehensive models that can guide and establish variables in relation to the social, cultural, environmental and economic limits of visitation levels,” he said.Murray Strong says tourism visitation in the district needs to take into account residential growth, community sentiment, and other factors. PHOTO: Supplied“Queenstown Lakes is a high growth district with an economy that is dominated by tourism. With a small resident population and high visitor numbers, understanding the implications of visitation is essential for making good decisions and achieving positive outcomes to meet the needs of the community.”“Visitation in the district needs to be analysed in conjunction with residential growth, community sentiment, worker experience, visitor experience, seasonal changes, environmental degradation/regeneration and cultural context,” he said.Queenstown Lakes District Council has managed the procurement process on behalf of DSL, and it will be part of the steering group overseeing the project alongside Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism.Work on the project begins this month.While the model is being developed specifically for the Queenstown Lakes district, DSL hopes it will produce a prototype that can be shared with other destinations across New Zealand, and around the world, to support regenerative tourism ambition.Read more: Lessons from Queenstown’s sister city

The snow has arrived with perfect timing and Queenstown Airport is buzzing, airport COO Todd Grace says.About 230,000 passenger movements (arrivals and departures) per month are expected in July and August.A slightly lower number of about 206,000 are expected in September. Australian families have already been flying in for their school holidays and another surge is expected with the start of New Zealand school holidays today (Saturday July 6).“The terminal is full, but we love welcoming people for winter holidays, and we’re well-prepared,” Todd said.The airport is expecting 230,000 passenger movements in July and the same number in August.Because the holidays are more spread out there will not be such a concentrated peak of passenger movements, he said.Todd said the airport expected another influx of people for Winter Pride (August 22) and the Snow Machine Festival (which will run for four days in early September).Todd said Queenstown Airport was currently tackling some projects and trials to improve the customer experience, including changes to passenger processing, baggage claim and security screening.Border agencies are trialling a change to passenger processing for passengers arriving from Australia, with the introduction of a biosecurity screening point before baggage collection which has reduced queuing and sped up processing times.The trial will continue until July 31 to test it with peak passenger numbers and, if that goes smoothly, the new procedures are likely to become permanent, Todd said.Screens in the baggage claim areas now advise when the first and last bags from a flight have been put on the conveyor belt to get rid of “the guesswork for passengers”, he said.A fourth passenger screening lane with improved screening technology has been installed, which allows travellers to leave laptops, iPads and other large electronics in their bags.PHOTOS: Supplied