Update on Watersports Project

West View - Wanaka Watersports Facility

In expectation of the imminent release of the draft Wanaka Lakeshore Management Plan (WLMP), the Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust (WWFT) has engaged a geotechnical engineer to look at the proposed site for the building. At this early stage, we are wanting an opinion on the extent of the alluvial fan hazard and whether it can be mitigated. Michael Sidey and Nic Blennerhassett met with Graeme Halliday of GeoSolve (formerly Tonkin & Taylor) to discuss what would be involved, and another GeoSolve partner, Hank Stocker, has since done a desktop hydrological investigation. He has advised that any debris flow from Stoney Creek can be dealt with by a small bund. Should the site be approved in the new WLMP, further analysis will be necessary to guide the design of the footings.

Nic took over the job of drawing up a 3D computer model of the proposed building. This was completed during February, and sent off to Ben Sharpe at Animation Research Ltd. We look forward to seeing the fly-around animation, and having it available to help us explain the proposal to the public.

The Public Relations sub-committee, led by Heather Wellman, has put together a programme for releasing information on the proposal to the public. This will be done via a website (as below), meetings with prospective donors and with interested parties, articles with radio and local papers, and talking to public services groups (Guardians of Lake Wanaka etc). Heather will be the media contact person for the steering group.

Richard Sidey has set up a website for the Trust, as well as a Facebook page, blog, interested parties register, and an email address to help us manage public feedback. Communication with interested parties via this address will be overseen by Michael and Nic, and the Facebook page and blog will be managed by Kevin Gingell-Kent. The website address is: http://www.wanakawatersports.co.nz

Towards the end of February, Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Calum MacLeod met with Michael and Nic to get an overview of the proposal prior to the March meeting of the Wanaka Community Board.

Now that the WWFT has fulfilled its initial goals (registration, charitable status, exemption from tax, setting up bank account), it is time for the appointment of a board of trustees. This will comprise two trustees drawn from the user groups and three independent trustees. The present informal committee will then become the Steering Group, and will report to the Board of Trustees.

Nic and Alistair Madill attended the Wanaka Community Board meeting on 11th March, at which the draft WLMP was tabled. This plan, which was written in a degree of haste (as explained by the new QLDC Parks and Operations manager) during February, will go to a WCB workshop meeting towards the end of March, and the resulting official draft plan will in all likelihood be notified in early April.

The WWFT will let all supporters know when submissions are due, and we hope for a large number of submissions in support of the proposal.