‘Good ideas’ aired on Lake Hawea SHA

WAYS to better integrate a proposed 400lot special housing area (SHA) into the Lake Hawea township have been found but details are not yet being disclosed.

Queenstown Lakes District councillor Scott Stevens, who is leading renewed consultation over the SHA, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday a report was being prepared for the council’s meeting on December 13.

It will detail discussions held with the developer Lane Hocking, the Wanaka Community Board, the Lake Hawea Community Association, and other developers in the area.

‘‘There were lots of good ideas that were brought forward.

‘‘The determinations out of that I can’t really speak to at this point. We are still working through it.’’

One of Lake Hawea residents’ objections to the development was its lack of connection with the township, but Cr Stevens believed integration ‘‘can be achieved’’.

‘‘The main crux of the conversation was not just on physical connections but also just integration with the fabric of the existing community.

‘‘When you have a small community based around a commun ity centre, a playground and other services, we don’t really want to end up in a situation where they are replicated before the town’s big enough to require them.’’

The SHA’s master plan shows about 400 sections, reserves, a playground, a community hub and a commercial area and ‘‘strong street connections’’.

Cr Stevens initially voted against recommending the SHA to the Government but now had an ‘‘open mind’’ on the proposal.

He planned to ‘‘have another chat’’ to the Lake Hawea community representatives before reporting to the council.