Wanaka Sports Mix Presentation

The Wanaka community is invited to a presentation, based on community feedback on the Wanaka Sports Facility, Queenstown Lakes District Council project manager Ken Gousmett said.

Consultation, including a questionnaire was undertaken in July to inform a draft facilities mix report and draft concept design.

“What we now have is a first cut of a draft that we would like to get before the community,” Mr Gousmett said.

The draft report could now be viewed on the Council website www.qldc.govt.nz, with the draft concept plan due to be completed and available in time for Monday’s (next week) presentation at the Lake Wanaka Centre. This would also be made available online.
The report covered all the feedback together with some good analysis of things like demographics, population and sports user trends.

“Much of the resulting draft facility recommendation is similar to that originally proposed with some important differences,” Mr Gousmett said.

The differences being:

• Three indoor courts as part of Stage 1 instead of two and five courts altogether instead of three.
• Provision to include a Sport Centre of Excellence, which is seen to be of significant economic benefit to the wider community.
• Grouping of the indoor facilities including reception and administration near the centre of the site with playing fields and car parks around the perimeter to give buffer space to residential zones.

The report also covered issues such as: future proofing the facility mix; transport and parking; and energy, water and resource efficiency. “This is an important next step and we really hope the community either takes the opportunity to come and hear the presentation or look at the report online and give feedback,” Mr Gousmett said.

The Council was now seeking comment on the draft report. Feedback should be with the Council by Thursday, October 6 and could be made online or dropped at the Wanaka Council office or emailed to services@qldc.govt.nz.

The presentation on Monday would begin at 7.30pm in the Faulks Room, Lake Wanaka Centre.