Submissions received
MORE than 160 public submissions on the draft Eely Point development plan were received by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and feedback shows support for building a marine rescue centre and prioritising cyclists and pedestrians in the reserve.
Sixty submitters favoured the proposal to locate the rescue centre at Eely Point, a number that ‘‘pleased’’ Coastguard Wanaka Lakes president Jonathan Walmisley.
While the location of the centre was not confirmed, he said it was important it be on the eastern side of Roys Bay.
‘‘We’re happy to have it anywhere on that side of the lake. It could be at the top of Eely Point or at the marina. We need to ensure that it is futureproofed, i.e. that it’s of the right size, and we also need to ensure that wherever it is located it will be safe for us to deploy to the lake.’’
Fortythree submitters were in favour of closing the gravel road around the point and making it accessible to pedestrians and cyclists only.
Active Transport Wanaka submitted extensive feedback on the development plan, and suggested the lakeside track that ran through the reserve was ‘‘the highest trafficked cycle path in Wanaka’’.
‘‘Over 80% of our bike renters would ride the lakeside track through Eely Point,’’ head of bikes at Outside Sports Scott Rainsford said inthe submission.
The submission ‘‘fully’’ supported the development of a shared pathway along the lakefront linking the existing lakeside track to the gravel road by the boat access ramp, which would allow cyclists and pedestrians to be separated from vehicles accessing the beach.
It also made recommendations to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the reserve, and requested to discuss those recommendations with council staff.
Council spokesman Jimmy Sygrove said the draft plan would be updated to reflect public feedback and presented to the Wanaka Community Board in the next two months.
He said the board would decide the next steps to take from there.