Standstill irks board
MEMBERS of the Wanaka Community Board have slammed the Queenstown Lakes District Council over the lack of progress in implementing the Wanaka lakefront development plan, which they describe as ‘‘intensely frustrating’’.
It has been nearly two years since the plan was adopted and entered into the funding and design stage, but there has yet to be any development.
It was expected a new toilet block would be installed at the corner of McDougall St and Mt Aspiring Rd by last summer, but that has been delayed until this Christmas. Work had also been due to begin on redeveloping the car park area by the marina for some time.
The project received a $6.2 million funding allocation in the recentlyadopted longterm plan, including $2.5 million in the 201819 financial year.
Cr Calum MacLeod told fellow community board members at a meeting yesterday of his ‘‘extreme disappointment’’ in council’s progress in implementing the plan.
‘‘There’s too much hooey and not enough doey, and it seems to be a recurring theme.’’
His thoughts were echoed by board chairman Cr Quentin Smith, and members Ed Taylor, Cr Ross McRobie, and Jude Battson.
‘‘This was one of the first items we discussed after we got elected,’’ Mr Taylor said.
‘‘It’s not as if we’re asking for some huge infrastructure project here. It’s just getting the cars off the lakefront, putting some grass in, some barbecues and seats.
‘‘I know it’s expensive, the whole project, but it’s our crown jewel and we need to do something. I think the public are sitting back and thinking ‘why haven’t you done anything?’ ’’
Cr McRobie was unimpressed the toilets had been sitting in a yard waiting to be installed for the best part of a year.
‘‘It makes us look stupid, quite frankly.’’
The discussion was a recurring one, according to Ms Battson. ‘‘It echoes what was said on the first of March at this table. Enough is enough and it’s time to do it.’’
QLDC spokeswoman Rebecca Pitts said construction on the first stage of the plan would start ‘‘in the next few months’’.
‘‘Since the plan was approved, work has been ongoing to progress designs from concept through to detailed construction drawings, incorporating services, obtaining consents then gaining funding approval through the longterm plan.
‘‘These processes take time.’’