‘Don’t mess with the ski lanes’ appears to be the most common theme presented in public submissions made to the council’s draft Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025, currently under review.The draft bylaw proposes the removal of half of Wānaka’s existing ski lanes, including all lanes in Roys Bay (Waterfall Creek and Eely Point included).The council received 139 submissions on the draft bylaw; the majority were from the Upper Clutha, and well over 60 percent opposed the draft bylaw.Of those, almost all were in opposition to the proposed removal of existing ski lanes which is the council's solution to “problematic” ski lane use (ski lanes are access lanes that enable powered vessels to legally exceed 5 knots within 200m of the shore for the purpose of towing skiers). Fewer than 20 percent supported the draft bylaw and the same number were neutral towards the draft’s proposals, but even some of them opposed the removal of ski lanes.Water ski signage denotes the current ski lane in Roys Bay.Most objections were on the basis that council had presented little evidence or data to support the lanes’ removal; that improved signage, education, monitoring and enforcement could resolve perceived issues with other water users, such as swimmers; and congestion in the remaining three lanes may increase risks, creating an unsafe environment.One submitter said ski lanes were introduced decades ago and have contributed to a safer environment for all lake users.“Removal of ski lanes… will inevitably shift skiing to areas with no designation or regulatory oversight.”Increasing the number of water skiers in limited areas, coupled with the rapidly growing popularity of towed inflatables, was inherently risky, submitters said.“Confining these activities to a smaller space is more dangerous. This is so counter intuitive to safety as to be unbelievable”.One of the remaining ski lanes is in Dublin Bay, known for its shallow, warm waters popular with swimmers and families. However, its shallowness makes it inaccessible for many vessels, including water skiers.A review of the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) current Navigation Safety Bylaw 2018 is required before it expires in March 2025 and the replacement draft proposes a range of changes from the current bylaw to ensure navigation safety is achieved in the district.Jumping from the Albert Town bridge is inherently risky.In addition to the removal of ski lanes, the draft also tackles a variety of other key issues, including the navigation safety risk associated with recreational jumping from the Albert Town Bridge, vessel identification, the carriage of communication equipment and buoyancy devices.The proposal for certain vessels to be identified on a register received considerable support but one submitter raised concerns about the potential conflict of local council registers and suggested a better option was for QLDC to work with other councils and central government to create a national register.Similarly, the proposed requirement for lake and river users to carry two types of approved communication equipment when more than 50m from shore received support from many but not all. Paddle boarders, recreational rafters, kitesurfers and the like thought it was an overreach.Some submitters also said it was inconsistent with Maritime New Zealand rules, as was the proposed restriction on the type of buoyancy device some water users were required to wear.The question of how to reduce the risks for recreational jumpers off the Albert Town Bridge and other river users, particularly motorcraft, was also addressed and received mixed support.It’s proposed to remove all water skiing from Roys Bay to make the lake safer for swimmers and other users.The draft proposes restricting boats to pass under the bridge via specific bridge arches, “located away from the known jumping spot”, the council said; but not all submitters were convinced it would improve safety.“...by forcing a skipper to travel through a specific passageway you are potentially creating risks when at certain times a different passageway could be much safer depending where other vessels/swimmers/kayaks etc are”, Jet Boat New Zealand said in its submission.Southern Lakes Windriders Club said in its submission the draft bylaw’s five knot speed limit within 50m off shore didn’t consider “the nuances of operating a windpowered 'vessel' like wingfoiling, kitesurfing and windsurfing”Launching from the shore, riders would need “to exceed a speed greater than five knots in order to operate our craft safely”, it said.The few who supported the draft bylaw said the removal of the ski lanes would improve safety for swimmers. A couple of submitters even recommended the removal of all motorised vessels in Roys Bay, saying it was better for the environment and the reduced noise would be welcome.Another wanted water skiing banned from Paddock Bay in favour of brown trout fishers.The Hāwea Community Association said while it was “not entirely opposed to a ski lane at Lake Hāwea” it needs to be located with reasonable access from family vehicles and it should not encroach on swimming or kite surfer beaches.The community “strongly” wanted to retain the swimming areas at Scott's Beach, John Creek and The Esplanade beaches, and to have the buoy lines indicating safe swimming extended at those beaches, it said. A hearing for the draft Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025 will be held at the Lake Wānaka Centre at 10am on Monday (November 25).Following the hearing the full council will deliberate and the new bylaw will be adopted sometime between January and March next year.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Holy Family Catholic School (HFCS) held a ‘Looney Laps’ event on Tuesday (November 19) to help raise money to upgrade the school’s tennis and netball courts.HFCS teacher Kathy Pittaway told the Wānaka App students secured sponsorship from family, friends and businesses before dressing up in “wild and wacky costumes” and taking part in a fun-run obstacle course at Kelly’s Flat.Sponsors either made a one-off donation or a per-lap donation and there were a range of prizes for students who raised the most money during the event.All money raised will go toward the cost of resurfacing the school’s courts, which currently have their “original, rough concrete surfaces”.Students dressed in ‘wild and wacky’ costumes for the fun-run.“Unfortunately, accidents are quite common on these courts, often resulting in unpleasant grazes,” Kathy said. “We have long wanted to resurface them with a more forgiving material that would reduce injuries while also providing an all-weather surface suitable for a variety of sports.”The school has raised around $19,000 towards the project so far.Tuesday’s event was the second time Looney Laps has taken place.Looney Laps was a fundraiser for new tennis and netball courts at the school.“The Looney Laps event was held in 2021, when we were raising money to improve our school library, it was hugely successful and the children really enjoyed the event,” Kathy said. The idea was dreamed up by a teacher “and it has just grown from there”.Locals who want to contribute to the cost of the courts’ resurfacing can do so here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka’s sprint stars continued to shine at last weekend’s (November 16-17) regional athletics competition while leading the way for younger local athletes to emulate.At the annual event - which commemorates New Zealand Olympian gold medal long jumper (1952) Dame Yvette Williams - eight Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) members distinguished themselves on the Caledonian Track, in Dunedin.Despite the windy, wintry conditions, all the AAC athletes achieved good performances and some were outstanding, AAC coach Michael Beable said. Records fell once again to Year 11 Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) sprinter Phoebe Laker in her favoured 400m distance as she clipped a substantial half second off her personal best time (PB) when winning the women’s open 400m in 56.4 seconds.Michael said this is the third time in the last five weeks Phoebe's 400m success has consecutively set three new Otago 400m records in the women’s 15, 16 and 17 age categories.Phoebe (15) also won the women’s open 200m in a fast 25.24s but was pipped on the line in the women’s open 100m by fellow AAC sprinter and former MAC student Niamh Townsend.Niamh (19) won the 100m in 12.53s and took gold in the women’s open 60m in 7.96s. She also placed third in the women’s 200m, an event she is using for training for her upcoming competitions, Michael said.Georgie Bruce is another AAC athlete using various sprint distances to improve her future performance in her main event the 400m; her best result for the weekend was fourth in the women’s 200m.Also setting a new PB was Year 13 MAC student Cody Armstrong (18) who ran an impressive 22.57s in the fast-finishing men’s open 200m, and was beaten into second place by a mere 0.09s behind Otago’s top under20 sprinter Sebastian Ferro.“Cody’s time bettered his previous best by 0.37s - a huge improvement,” Michael said, but the tailwind winds meant it won’t be officially recorded. He also won the men’s open 400m in a time of 51.33s. Fellow Year 13 MAC student Matthew Botting (17) had a satisfying competition placing third in the men’s open 100m (11.78s), and fifth and fourth respectively in the 200m and 400m. Michael said he was very pleased with the results gained by the three younger AAC athletes who competed in the women’s under16 events.Year 9 MAC student Vienna Harley won both section 2 of the women’s 60m and Section 3 of the women’s 100m; won the women’s under16 80m hurdles and placed second in the women’s long jump with a leap of 4.42m into stiff headwinds. Up and coming local athletes Lillian Lake (left) and Eve Pfahlert take first and second in the women’s U16 (Section 2) 200m.Meanwhile, fellow Year 9 student Eve Pfahlert (13) placed second in Section 3 of the women’s 100m, won Section 2 of the women’s 200m (29.24s) and ran third in the women’s 400m.And the contingent’s youngest athlete, Year 8 MAC student Lillian Lake competed in three sprints with her best result being second in Section 2 of the women’s 200m just behind teammate Eve and fifth in the U16 women’s long jump.Next up for the senior athletes will be the National Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in Timaru, December 6-8.PHOTOS: Supplied

Otago Lakes Central Police have launched a homicide investigation relating to the death of 60-year-old Invercargill woman Karen Gaylene White, who died at a Lake Hāwea property on Friday March 8 this year (2024).At the time police described it as a ‘sudden death’ and said it was being treated as ‘unexplained’, with enquiries ongoing.Detective senior sergeant Regan Boucher said a team of investigators is working to establish the circumstances that led to Karen’s death, and are committed to holding to account those responsible.“I want to reassure the Otago lakes central community that they can continue to feel safe while the police investigation continues and we appeal to anyone who has any information that may assist the investigation, or who saw any unusual activity in Lake Hāwea area in late February and March 2024, to please contact 105 or make a report online,” Regan said.“This is an extremely traumatic time for a family who have lost a daughter, mother, grandmother, wife and friend… .“If you have any information that could help, please update police online or call 105 using reference number 240308/6198.”Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Locals can support the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign by visiting ‘Cliff’, Dunedin City Council’s campaign ambulance, in Wānaka this afternoon (Friday November 22).Cliff has been travelling the country to build support for the campaign and teaming up with other groups who want the government to reverse recently announced budget cuts to Dunedin's new hospital.“We want the hospital we were promised – one that is fit for purpose now and for decades to come, not a cut-price ambulance at the bottom of the cliff,” Dunedin mayor Jules Radich said.Cliff will be in Wānaka at the Dinosaur Park from 2pm-3pm today and local advocacy group Health Action Wānaka (HAW) said going along provides ”an opportunity for our community to show its support for the campaign”.“We know that even with increased hospital services based in the Central-Lakes area, Upper Clutha residents will continue to need access to more specialised tertiary-level health services based in Dunedin,” the group said. “This is why we support the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign which is advocating for the government to fulfil its election promise to build the new Dunedin Hospital as planned.”HAW said it was “in all of our best interests” for the new Dunedin Hospital to have the capacity to meet the healthcare needs of people across the Southern region.“…we don’t think it’s acceptable for politicians to pit our district against the broader Southern health region when it comes to funding for equitable access to healthcare.”Representatives from the Save Our Hospital campaign, including drivers Mike and Pam, will be at the Dinosaur Park from 2pm-3pm today to answer any questions people have, and they will be selling $5 badges to help fund the campaign.HAW steering committee member Trish Anderson will also be there.Earlier this month Cliff travelled to the Beehive in Wellington, delivering to the government the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s petition calling on it to reverse plans to scale back the budget for the hospital.PHOTO: Dunedin City Council

Another air quality monitoring station will be installed locally by the Otago Regional Council (ORC).The temporary station will be located at the road reserve on Rifleman Street in Albert Town and it will monitor levels of particulate matter - tiny particles that are a harmful pollutant - ORC environmental monitoring network lead Nick Boyens said.“Other equipment includes meteorological instruments to measure ambient temperature, wind direction, wind speed and relative humidity,” Nick said.The station, comprising a mobile monitoring system, is likely to be in place for around 15 months, to capture conditions next winter, when air quality is typically at its worst.The mobile monitoring system is a “small self-contained trailer that contains all necessary instrumentation and power supplies,” Nick said.Two months ago the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) approved a long-term monitoring station for Upton Street.Yesterday (Thursday November 21), during the WUCCB meeting, they signed off on a temporary station in Albert Town.Both stations are part of upgrades the ORC is doing to its air quality monitoring systems in Queenstown Lakes.ORC began upgrading and expanding its monitoring sites late last year in response to changing monitoring guidelines from Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA).Increased air quality monitoring and data collection will make the regional council better equipped to address air pollution, the ORC said.PHOTO: ORC

Locals will be able to travel on SH6 to Haast, Knight’s Point and beyond from tomorrow morning (November 22) at 10am.The section of SH6 between Haast and Lake Moeraki has been closed since November 9 after record-breaking rain led to flooding, slips and rockfalls, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) system manager Mark Pinner said.The closure of a section of key highway (SH6 runs all the way from the top of the South Island to Invercargill) is “never convenient…and the start of the summer tourism season was particularly unwelcome this year,” he said.However, all safety-critical rock blasting and scaling north of Haast at the Epitaph Slip is now complete, he said.“The rock scaling and explosives team has been working continually since Monday last week to make this site safe for it to reopen,” Mark said.“As well as removing rocks which directly threatened the highway, using air bags, explosives and helicopter sluicing, they have also tackled a number of other unstable rock faces around this section of highway, with more to come to provide some future-proofing.”Mark said there has been minimal movement at the site since recording began on November 9. There will still be some stop/go traffic management over the coming weeks, Mark said.Additional safety features are being installed including movement sensors in the ground that are linked to warning lights. If movement is detected they will automatically warn drivers to stop as a hazard is present.   The highway will also close overnight for the time being from 9pm through to 7am, while NZTA gains more assurance of slope stability.“Thanks to all drivers for building in extra time over the next few weeks between Lake Moeraki and Haast,” Mark said. In the future more sizable blasting work will also require road closures for part of some days, with details to be confirmed soon, he said.If there is further heavy rain, NZTA may close the road as a precaution.PHOTO: NZTA

A new bus park in the town centre, new timed parking restrictions in Northlake and new no-stopping restrictions on Anderson and McDougall Streets are up for debate in Wānaka this week.New ’no stopping at any time’ restrictions (yellow dotted lines) on both sides of Anderson Road are proposed over a 25m distance between the Aubrey Road roundabout and Rowley Place.In its report to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), the council said motorists were frequently parking vehicles on this stretch of roadside near the roundabout and illegally blocking the traffic lane.‘With both visitor and population growth in the district leading to pressure on housing and higher demands for parking, inappropriate parking is becoming increasingly common,” council staff said.But not everyone is happy with the proposal to increase the broken yellow lines on Anderson Road.“There are already insufficient roadside car parks,” WUCCB deputy chair Chris Hadfield said.Chris, who lives on Anderson Road, said he understands the need for safety at the busy roundabout intersection but added that new no-stopping sections of roadside coupled with existing no-stopping sections are putting a lot of pressure on what little parking remains along Anderson Road. “My understanding is there have been complaints about parked cars at the Aubrey Rd end of Anderson. However it has only become an issue since the bike path was put in,” he said.He said he plans to raise the issue of cycle lanes being introduced to the detriment of car parking at today’s (November 21) board meeting.Also proposed are new 60 minute parking restrictions in Northlake on Northlake Drive & Mount Linton Avenue. Sixty minute parking restrictions are proposed for Northlake’s commercial centre.Council said parking space near Northlake's commercial centre is used by vehicles parked all day and time restrictions would promote turnover and improve car park availability.A section of free roadside parking on McDougall Street between the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park, often used by campervans, might also be amended for exclusive use by bus service operators.The proposed bus parking is beside the entrance to the showgrounds. Council staff say bus operators use this area to pick up and drop off passengers and are requesting the board considers installing bus stop markings and signs to this section of roadside.Further up McDougall Street, opposite the Wānaka Community Hub, parking on a 6.1m stretch of roadside, between two private driveways, has become contentious. Complaints have been made to council of motorists frequently parking vehicles illegally across the driveways. It is proposed to change this 6.1m section from free parking to no stopping at all times.The four proposed parking restrictions will be considered for approval by the WUCCB at its meeting this morning at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Changes to existing parking restrictions or the implementation of new restrictions under the Queenstown Lake District Council’s Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2018 require a council resolution but the WUCCB has been delegated the power to decide those amendments.  PHOTOS: Wānaka App

A new market initiative aimed at providing an outlet for local seasonal produce and artisan food made with local ingredients will begin soon in Luggate.Upper Clutha Farmers’ Market organiser Amanda Vollweiler said more than 20 vendors plan to support the market, selling a variety of fruit and vegetables, cheese, free range eggs, breads, fresh fish and smoked salmon, flowers, olive oil, preserves and coffee, as well as a range of brunch and lunch items.“Where possible the aim is to support vendors who live in the area, and are growing and using local ingredients,” she said.The market will be held on the reserve beside the Luggate Memorial Centre. The plan is to run it once a month during the summer, starting December 15, and then review its success, she said.Vendors signed up for the market include salmon producers Hook Wanaka, Queensberry’s Susi Q’s Garden, organic market garden Frog Song Farm, and Red Bridge Berries.Frog Song Farm owners Lisa Johnston and Greg Inwood said they will have a range of salads, carrots, herbs, walnuts as well as “a crop of green romanesco cauliflowers grown in anticipation of this market”.“We’re looking forward to it as it’ll be a good chance for us to meet with and chat with our customers and supporters. It will be a great connecting event for our local food community…” Lisa said. Red Bridge Berries co-owner Bex Trotter said the market concept is ideal for Luggate as the reserve venue has good capacity for vendors, plenty of parking for market-goers and the bonus of the playground for families.“It’s a great initiative for locals and visitors to buy fresh produce,” Bex said.She said a local market has been needed for a long time but perhaps only now are there enough local producers to support a market with a wide range and variety of locally grown products.Also attending will be Luggate-based catering company Fox and Badger. Known for creating fresh local and sustainable food, Fox and Badger’s co-owner Maria “Maz” O’Leary said a market like this in Luggate is a good initiative.“I think it’s great that Luggate will be coming together as a community... people here are really engaging and the community vibe is exactly what’s needed to make it a success,” Maz said.The first market day starts at 9am and runs until 1:30pm on Sunday, December 15. PHOTO: Supplied

Transport Minister Simeon Brown is crying foul over the amount spent on traffic management, saying it is "eyewatering".Brown had previously raised concerns over the cost of road cones and temporary speed limits, asking the ministry to look into it.In a speech at the roading industry's annual Future Roads conference in Hamilton on Wednesday, he shared their findings.About $786 million was spent on state highway maintenance and capital spending over three years, accounting for 9.3 percent of the government's total transport spend."Maintaining our road, water and electrical infrastructure is essential, and some level of TTM (temporary traffic management) is unavoidable. But the current approach is out of control. Excessive use of road cones and temporary speed limit reductions - sometimes left in place when work is complete - simply increases cost, forces people to slow down, and frustrates drivers," he said."As a result of the expectations set by the government, NZTA is already responding by implementing a new risk-based approach to how TTM is implemented."This new approach shifts away from the blanket use of road cones and temporary speed limit restrictions and towards a risk-based approach which seeks to balance the need to ensure road workers are kept safe, while keeping costs under control."The minister said initial signs from the first quarter of this financial year were positive, but urged caution on using those figures given they only covered the one quarter during winter months."The government will be waiting to see the trend continue to show a reduction in expenditure from what we have seen in previous years, and improved results for roadworkers and motorists."He said further work would also see local councils reporting their own spending, against benchmarks."This figure does not include expenditure by local councils on local roads. Further work is currently underway to provide public reporting and benchmarking of expenditure for local councils in addition to the reporting made by NZTA."PHOTO: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

A South Korean man who drowned in Lake Wānaka in 2022 stopped swimming suddenly and sank below the surface just five metres from his friend, a coroner has found.In findings just released, Coroner Andrew Schirnack said there was a strong possibility 21-year-old Jinwoo Park developed a sudden abnormal heart rhythm shortly before drowning.Jinwoo was travelling around New Zealand with a friend when they visited Roys Bay for a swim on November 24.His friend entered the water first, swimming to a pontoon situated around 50 metres from the shoreline, before Jinwoo followed.After stopping suddenly near the pontoon, his friend reported, Jinwoo began waving his hands to the side before he sank below the surface and did not resurface.Jinwoo’s friend called for help and jumped in the water to assist, shortly followed by two passers-by.He was located on the lake floor by one of the passers-by but they were unable to retrieve him and the police dive squad recovered his body the following day.The coroner said the pathologist had reported it was likely “a sudden abnormal heart rhythm” resulted in insufficient blood being pumped to the heart, “leading to him being unable to continue swimming or maintain buoyancy”.Jinwoo was described as young, fit and healthy and he was a former Korean Navy serviceman.His friend reported he was a good swimmer who could swim 100 metres.Jinwoo had shown no signs of fear or pain when he stopped swimming, the friend said.The coroner requested Drowning Prevention Aotearoa (DPA) provide an analysis of the death, and its report included safety recommendations such as hazard assessments for anchored swimming pontoons, water safety signage and the availability of rescue equipment.The coroner said while he was “not detracting from the DPA’s recommendations” he did not believe Jinwoo’s death could be clearly linked to the absence of any safety gear or signage.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A driver who fled from police in Wānaka yesterday (Tuesday November 19) was clocked travelling at 166kph, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.The driver, a 21-year-old male, has since been charged with “serious charges” including reckless driving, failure to stop and driving while suspended, Fi said.She said police first received a driving complaint in relation to a rental vehicle in the Cardrona Valley Road area, Fi said.Police responded and located the vehicle, which “fled towards Wānaka, continuing to drive at high speeds”.The driver was later stopped in West Wānaka.Fi said the male was driving a rental vehicle.IMAGE: Supplied

Wānaka Police dealt with the breach of a protection order, a violent threat, a disqualified driver on the road, a car accident, a car chase and other incidents over the past week.“A male was arrested and charged with breaching a protection order and other family harm related offences,” Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said. “His bail was opposed and [he] has been remanded in custody.”Local police also arrested a Wānaka male “who threatened a person known to him with a knife in Queenstown,” Fi said. “He was located driving back to Wānaka. He is facing numerous charges in relation to the incident.”Road policing incidents included a disqualified driver who was found driving in Luggate on Monday (November 18).“His vehicle was impounded and [he] will appear in court in December.”Police also responded to a vehicle which lost control on gravel on Domain Road on Saturday (November 16).There were no injuries to the driver, Fi said.Yesterday (Tuesday November 19) the police also dealt with a dangerous driving incident.The driver was held in custody after he stopped for police close to an hour after first being spotted driving dangerously. Read more: Police arrest man over dangerous driving incidentFi said the trailers parked at the Mt Iron roundabout have been issued with a notice to remove them within seven days.The trailers have had an ever-changing series of messages posted on them and have attracted local attention.Go deeper: Locals have say as McDonald’s hearing looms.“The trailers will be removed by NZTA if not removed by [whoever] owns them,” Fi said.Fi congratulated Wānaka SAR after it hosted the Southern District SAREX successfully last weekend and thanked Coasguard, Wānaka SAR, landowners who provide access and the community.The exercise enables SAR and other groups to meet, plan, practice, review, and evaluate in an environment where time and stress can be controlled.“During the SAREX, the Coastguard had to pivot away from action to respond to actual events, assisting vessels that struck difficulty,” Fi said.On Saturday (November 16) Wānaka SAR also attended two land-based incidents: a family, overdue on Roys Peak, were safely found; and a female tramping in the Timaru Creek area sought police assistance when she thought she was lost.“Both resolved without incident.”Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers has weighed in on the government’s proposal to charge visitors for access to some national parks and conservation areas.The Department of Conservation says charging for access to public land is a significant opportunity for conservation, which would support a fairer user-pays system and improve the experience of all visitors.Glyn told the Wānaka App while he was broadly supportive of the proposal, there are “big questions still to be answered”.“I’m a keen advocate of regenerative tourism, and ‘user pays’ access to our environmental taonga should definitely be explored. This is a similar rationale to the visitor levy that we have long advocated for,” he said.“As Destination Queenstown has already pointed out, the whole funding model needs to be considered holistically – how does the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, national park access and any local visitor levy work together? What are these revenue streams spent on, and who are they channelled to?” He said there was “significantly more work to be done”, including answering the important question of whether or not domestic visitors and Kiwis would pay, or just international visitors.Despite the unanswered questions, Glyn said it was “good to see that the government is acknowledging that visitation comes with a cost.”Regional tourism organisation Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) also believed the details of the user-pays proposal will be important.“We believe any such framework should be thoughtfully designed, incorporating public and stakeholder input and reflecting values such as inclusivity, fairness, and alignment,” LWT head of tourism Gizelle Regan told the Wānaka App. “Funds generated should be transparently allocated to conservation, infrastructure improvements, and initiatives that benefit both residents and visitors​​​.”Public consultation of the topic is open now.“The world has changed considerably since the Conservation Act was enacted in 1987,” minister of conservation Tama Potaka said. “These proposals are intended to bring our conservation system up to date, better protect biodiversity, and enhance our ability to manage growing tourism sustainably.”The minister said he wants to hear from the public on the proposal, in particular on key questions over who should be charged, which locations should have fees, and how revenue should be used.There are two discussion documents on the proposal available for members of the public to read, before public consultation closes in February 2025.“I encourage all New Zealanders to read them and share their views,” the minister said.QLDC confirmed it was working on a submission.Find the discussion documents here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A man has been arrested after fleeing police this afternoon.Police said they were alerted to dangerous driving on Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road at approximately 3.40pm today (Tuesday, November 19).The driver stopped for police on West Wānaka Road, a police spokesperson said.The driver has been taken into custody and charges are being considered, they said.Members of the public were alerted by numerous sirens.One witness said they saw a vehicle traveling at speed at 4pm near Wānaka Station Park and passing vehicles on the inside by driving on the grass verge. The car was followed by three police cars, they said.IMAGE: Supplied

A long-awaited second large-scale supermarket chain has plans to open in Wānaka.An application to build a Woolworths supermarket in Three Parks was lodged with the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) yesterday (Monday November 18).Woolworths New Zealand is planning a 3,810m2 supermarket - comparable in size to New World Three Parks - and it is planning to offer pick-up and delivery services of its groceries.It will be a “state of the art, full service store designed to meet the needs of the growing local community,” Woolworths New Zealand director of property Matt Grainger told the Wānaka App. The proposed Woolworths supermarket (green rectangle) and retail shops will be on the same side of Sir Tim Wallis Drive as Mitre 10 MEGA.If approved, the new supermarket is set to be located in Three Parks on the south side of Mitre 10 MEGA, diagonally opposite New World Three Parks.As well as the supermarket itself, the Woolworths will include 200m2 of separate retail, food or beverage tenancies.The supermarket would be known as ‘Woolworths Three Parks’.The proposed site layout.The development would also feature a publicly accessible open space/plaza alongside Sir Tim Wallis Drive, and there would be parking for more than 180 cars, as well as provision for campervans and bicycles.“It’s great to be at this stage with our proposed new supermarket and we look forward to working with the council as the application progresses,” Matt said.QLDC is currently considering Woolworth’s New Zealand’s application.IMAGES: Supplied

Otago Regional Council (ORC) is looking to simplify the application process for a fund which supports a range of grassroots environmental groups in the region.As part of its review of the ECO fund - billed to offer more than $1M in funding in its next round - it is also planning to adjust eligibility and assessment criteria to give more groups the opportunity to access funding.“Year after year, we’re oversubscribed for funding and want to make the application process as easy as possible for these environmental groups,” ORC principal advisor environmental implementation Anna Molloy said.“The results to date from these largely community-lead projects have been amazing.”Local recipients of past ECO Fund rounds have included Friends of Bullock Creek, Hāwea Charitable Trust, Kirimoko Catchment Group, and Black Peak Road Rabbit Control Group, among others.At last week’s council meeting councillors reviewed wage funding criteria, eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, and terms and conditions for applicants.They also floated the idea of replacing two categories (native planting for water quality and pest control) with critical source area management on private land, for the latter, expanding it to include weed removal and native revegetation.This would broaden the type of projects which are applicable, ORC said.The next round of the ORC’s ECO Fund is scheduled to be opened in March 2025.An estimated total funding available of up to $1.05M is likely.People and groups interested in an ECO Fund application can register their interest via the ORC website.As part of this process, they can ask to be notified of the next round opening, discuss with ORC staff their project idea or how their project would fit in terms of ECO Fund criteria, and learn about the terms and conditions before submitting an application, Anna said.She said the website would be updated with the outcomes of the review and council decisions shortly.PHOTO: Supplied

Locals and visitors can get their hands on second-hand treasures and feel-good finds at the Wastebusters’ Sustainable Christmas Market, coming up on Saturday (November 23).From 9am-2pm, the Wastebusters yard will become a festive hub of locally made treasures, sustainable shopping, and plenty of holiday cheer, Wastebusters’ reuse team leader Mathilde Fonteneau said. ”Our Reuse Team has been busy collecting wonderful gifts and decorations, and we can’t wait to decorate the shop and welcome everyone into the festive spirit,” she said.“This market is one of our favourite events of the year.”There will be more than 20 stalls featuring everything from artwork and jewellery to handmade ceramics and houseplants. Mathilde said shoppers can expect to find thoughtful gifts, stocking stuffers, and unique treasures.The reuse shop will also be filled with secondhand decorations, affordable gifts, and alternative wrapping options.One of the stallholders from last year’s market.Plant-based food will be available from The Fox and Badger.Shopping at Saturday’s Sustainable Christmas Market will support talented local makers and a more sustainable holiday spirit, she Matilde said.“We love seeing the Wānaka community come together at this event,” she said.“It’s a chance to celebrate the season while making thoughtful choices for people and the planet.”The on-site car park will be closed for the market stalls and parking will be available across the road; pedestrians should follow the yellow cones to the pedestrian entrance; and bike parking is available on-site.The drop-off lane will be closed for the day.PHOTOS: Wastebusters

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) year 13 student and rising cycling star Carter Guichard has signed with a pro cycling team in Europe.Next year Carter (18) will compete in around 30 of the most competitive races in Europe as a member of Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur.“As a Neo-Pro [a professional cyclist in their first year] I know that my role will first be to help my teammates at first and be in the early race breakaways but I also hope to get a handful of standout results for myself,” Carter said.His selection follows a successful year racing in Europe in the Decathlon AG2R under-19 development team, which aims to ‘detect and train the champions of tomorrow’.Read more: Wānaka teen selected for prestigious cycling teamDuring the season Carter made first place in the Tour de la Vallée de la Trambouze, the Tour de Causse-Aigoual-Cévennes, and the Classique des Bourbons.He placed second in the Three Days of Axel and the Prix de la Ville d’Aubenas and placed third in the New Zealand national championships.Carter has a busy training regime: “My typical day looks like between 2.5 and 4 hours of training per day on average both in the gym and on the bike,” he said, “occasionally going up to over 6 hours of training per day.”Carter will spend the next couple of months in Wānaka, training for the 2025 season.In January, he will head to Spain to meet his team for its first training camp of the year.PHOTO: Supplied