Mt Aspiring Road Carpark paves the way for Stage Two of Wanaka Lakefront Development Plan

Date:

Nov 15, 2018

PICTURED: Wanaka Community Board members (left to right: Quentin Smith, Rachel Brown, Ruth Harrison, Ed Taylor and Calum MacLeod) at the Mt Aspiring Road Carpark site and its treatment system – a filtration trench with three component layers to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff.

Work on Stage One of Wanaka’s Lakefront Development Plan continues to progress well with the Mt Aspiring Road Carpark planned for completion in time for Christmas.

The work is paving the way for what’s to come as the carpark marks an essential first step in ensuring accessibility for all, to be followed by the creation of a pedestrian destination and the return of green spaces in Stage Two of the plan.

Deputy Mayor Calum MacLeod said the introduction of permanent carparking is all about balance. 

“Stage Two aims to reclaim a lot of the lakefront for people, but realistically, first we needed somewhere for residents and visitors alike to park when heading into town.”

And with that to be provided in time for Christmas, implementation of Stage Two of the Lakefront Development plan was approved of today by the Wanaka Community Board, including work to form an activation space designated for pedestrians over the New Year.

It’s these initial steps which had the Wanaka Community Board excited when visiting the Mt Aspiring Road Carpark construction site.

“This represents the beginning of a consolidation of parking, removing some from the Wanaka lakefront to create a more people-friendly environment,” said QLDC Councillor and Wanaka Community Board Chair Quentin Smith.

“The vision here is to redefine the way we interact and enjoy our lakefront and in turn ensure better access and transport to the Wanaka Town Centre.”

Stage Two along ‘South Beach’ aims to achieve that. Initially this land will be utilised over the New Year period to transition vehicles from parking on it, providing more green spaces for people to gather in.

Following this, official work on the plan commences in the first half of 2019 with the construction of a four metre wide promenade connecting Mt Aspiring Road Carpark with Wanaka’s Town Centre, accompanied by picnic facilities and landscaping.

QLDC General Manager Community Services, Thunes Cloete said progress already made on the project was great to see.

“This is an important part of Wanaka, and when work on Stage Two begins we’re going to see increased support for active travel and the retention of people-friendly land on the lakefront,” Dr Cloete said.

Mr Smith acknowledged there will be disruption as work on the Lakefront Development Plan progresses, but said he and the Wanaka Community Board are fully behind the project.

“We as a board strongly believe in this vision and that this project represents major steps toward it.  Furthermore, we believe this is a vision supported by the community."

“We’re building for people,” said Mr MacLeod.

ENDS

For more information please contact QLDC Communications via communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.