Cars shut out of resort’s lakefront
Roads will be closed in Wanaka next month as authorities assess whether the town centre could become car-free in the future.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is closing parts of Ardmore and Helwick St for six days to test how a more car-free, open space feels on the lakefront.
The trial is part of a project examining how the town will work and function over the next 30 years.
Triggered by unprecedented residential and visitor growth in the district, the Wanaka Town Centre Masterplan was begun last year to look at a host of issues affecting the area, including better transport and access.
Queenstown Lakes District Deputy Mayor Calum Macleod said as well as the closed roads, car parks will be removed on the foreshore, new one way streets will be opened and a new access point for buses will be created.
The Wanaka Showgrounds will offer free parking as compensation.
‘‘Short term road closures may seem inconvenient, however, this should be seen as a positive opportunity to look to change mindsets,’’ Macleod said.
‘‘These changes are an honest attempt to connect our lake with our town centre for the betterment of our whole community.’’
During the closures there will be activities for people to enjoy in a temporary open space, from team dodgeball, cricket, markets, community group workshops, acoustic performers, street art and oversized board games.
‘‘We’re listening to what the community is telling us and have designed a short programme of activities that will better link our stunning lakefront to the town centre, allow for active travel and bring our people together to talk about how things might be in the future.’’
Lake Wanaka Tourism chairman Mark Morrison, who was part of a working group behind the idea, said closing off the lakefront to cars had been talked about ‘‘for a long time’’.
‘‘I think it’s really good from the perspective [that] there is some sort of action. It’s a forwardthinking approach [and] we could not just do what has been done before.’’
Wanaka is growing dramatically and there are challenges
‘‘These changes are an honest attempt to connect our lake with our town centre for the betterment of our whole community.’’ Queenstown Lakes District Deputy Mayor Calum Macleod
around creating spaces for both locals and visitors to enjoy, particularly with the development of Three Parks, he said.
Three Parks, currently in the construction phase, is a new mixed-use development over 100 hectares by Willowridge Developments Limited south east of Wanaka.
The plans include a primary school and supermarket.
Morrison said: ‘‘I think we are going to see a change in the dynamics of the town and I think it’s going to be a challenge for us . . . to not have locals at Three Parks and tourists on the lakefront.
‘‘What is trying to be achieved is to create a town centre on the lakefront that locals and visitors will want to be at, so it’s attractive to all of use.’’
The trial will run from March 15-18, with road closures from 3pm on March 14 until 3pm on March 19.