Trust's Submission on the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan
1.0 Summary
1.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust is a charitable trust set up to promote the construction of a multi-use building to support non-motorised water-based activities in Lake Wanaka.
1.2 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust supports the draft Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan, and the direction and vision of the plan.
1.3 The Trust supports the following general management policies:
7.2.1.3
7.2.1.9
7.2.1.12
1.4 The Trust supports objective 7.2.2 relating to recreation and events, and all policies relating to that objective.
1.5 The Trust supports objective 7.2.3 relating to landscape, and all policies relating to that objective.
1.6 The Trust supports policy 8.8.3.2 for Roys Bay.
1.7 The Trust seeks that specific mention is made in section 8.8.2 that the Reserve in the south-western corner of Roys Bay is an appropriate area to be used by rowers, swimmers, tri and multi-sport athletes, stand-up paddleboarders, kayakers and other non-motorised watersports. Policy 8.8.2 should allow access to this area of the lake that has a long reach parallel with the western shore in relatively shallow water, and has less potential for conflict with motorboats than the eastern shore. Policy 8.8.2 should explicitly state the intention of the Council to provide a safe separation between motorised and non-motorised watersports by concentrating facilities for each respectively on the east and west shores. However, the policy should not exclude motorised boats, as motorised coach boats are used in training for non-motorised watersports such as rowing.
1.8 The Trust believes that the south-western corner of Roys Bayis the only site for a multi-use building to support non-motorised water-based activities in Lake Wanaka that meets the needs of all the targeted users, and is an area that provides a safe environment to carry out non-motorised water-based recreational pursuits.
1.9 The Trust wishes to be heard in support of its submission.
2.0 Background to this Submission
2.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust (the Trust) is a charitable trust set up to establish and operate a facility "to provide an operational base for Watersports conducted by community groups or incorporated bodies in the Wanaka region and ad hoc or seasonal visitors to the Wanaka region to enable those organisations to enhance and expand their memberships and to enable general public participation in Watersports, including in particular youth participation."
2.2 The Trust originated in the Wanaka Rowing Club’s desire to construct a clubrooms building for storage of their own rowing skiffs and gym equipment, but has expanded into a more comprehensive organisation catering to a wider range of watersports groups, not otherwise catered for in the Wanaka Yacht Club.
2.3 The Trust Board comprises three independent trustees and two trustees nominated to represent user groups. These user groups currently include the lake swimmers, rowers, kayakers, and members of the multi-sport fraternity. These user groups are not exclusive, and further watersports groups (e.g. stand-up paddleboarders, white water kayakers) or individual participants will be able to be included in the future.
2.4 The Trust has a philosophy, similar to the Halberg Trust, of ensuring accessibility for physically disabled users.
2.5 The growing popularity of competing in events, by locals and visitors, is evidenced in the media. Such events as Challenge Wanaka, Motutapu Xterra, Goldrush, Red Bull Adventure Race, God Zone Adventure Race, Spring Challenge (women only adventure race) are on the increase in number, indicating a ground swell of interest in participating in all these activities.
Xterra and Adventure Racing, which include long legs of kayaking and swimming, are increasingly using Wanaka and the surrounding wilderness as a venue for their races. International viewing of these events presents Wanaka in a favourable light for the 'outdoor' tourist.
Wanaka has also become a popular training location for international-rated multi-sport athletes. A brief list of top-tier triathletes who have recently been training in Wanaka includes: the NZ Triathalon Team (including local Olympian Nicky Samuels, Andrea Hewitt - Olympian ranked #5 in the world); the Dutch Triathalon Team; Javier Gomez (Olympic silver medallist, 3-time world champion); Jodie Stimpson (current #1 world); and Coach Darren Smith's squad (Darren coaches four of the top 20 women from the London Olympics).
Lake Wanaka is one of the best training grounds in the country for multi-sport, which is why a number of top past and present Coast to Coast athletes choose to live in Wanaka. Locally-based top-level tri and multi-sport athletes include: Braden Currie, Gina Crawford, Keith Murray, Jess Simpson and Dougall Allan.
The successes of such locally-based and international athletes inspires more people to participate, and the proposed Watersports Facility will support such participation.
2.6 Lake Wanaka Tourism has a branding promotion called "Lifestyle Reserve". A facility on the lakefront is a good fit for the many residents and visitors whose lifestyle includes water-based sports.
2.7 The Trust believes that a building is needed to support non-motorised water-based activities, and that it needs to be on the waterfront.
Like the Yacht Club, which needs to store boats on-site, the rowing club also needs a lakefront boatshed for their skiffs and other equipment. Rowing skiffs, generally club-owned items, are both large (too long for a roof rack) and delicate objects (with easily damaged riggers and thin hulls). In order to make efficient use of the best time for training - 6 am to 8 am - the equipment needs to be adjacent to the water.
A Watersports Facility on the lakeshore would provide discreet changing facilities for the lake swimmers, as well as necessary toilets for swim starts. The presence of duck itch throughout Roys Bay means that a rinsing facility is needed, and the availability of hot showers immediately after distance swimming, especially in the colder months, is also important.
Strength training for down-river racing benefits from a body of water that allows a long round trip, so that transporting of kayaks is minimised. Racing kayaks, which are often over 5 m long, are fragile and easily damaged. A storage facility for kayaks on the lakeshore would allow a more efficient use of training time, and would help to limit the number of times that kayaks are loaded on and off roof racks.
2.8 The Rowing Club has extensively explored options and sites. In 2010, eight sites were looked at for a boatshed/clubrooms facility, from Glendhu Bay around to Eely Point, and the pros and cons of each evaluated in a report (refer to WRC Comparison of Possible Sites for Proposed Clubrooms in Appendix A). Concept plans were prepared for three of these sites (at the Yacht Club, Eely Point and Tapley Paddock) as well as for a further site at Stoney Creek. Due to the degree of compromise required to make these sites feasible, and the safety issues at some of the sites, they have been abandoned.
This tenth site, i.e. the south western end of Roys Bay (Roys Bay site), is now the site that satisfies all issues generated by the exploration of the other sites. The location also works for other watersports groups, allowing a single building to meet the needs of a range of users, thus preventing proliferation of separate facilities on the lakefront reserves.
Over the last four years, a line of swim buoys has been extended from the south-western corner of Roys Bay along part of the main lake frontage. The Wanaka Lake Swimmers currently meet at the Stoney Creek carpark to change, and then swim either beside the line of buoys or along the western shore towards Ruby Island. Since swimmers can be hard to see, it is vitally important that the use of motorised water craft is limited in an area frequently used for this activity. The most suitable location for a building to house the facilities needed by the lake swimmers is near the Stoney Creek carpark, which gives access to safe parts of the lake.
The Roys Bay site allows access to a stretch of water that is often calm, allowing kayakers and rowers to launch without being swamped. Rowing skiffs and K-1 (Olympic) kayaks are narrow, tippy boats; users require a long reach of calm water in which to train, ideally 2.5 km long.
The Roys Bay site has the conditions needed by swimmers, rowers and kayakers: access to the swim buoys; access to a safe area of the lake; and access to a long reach of flat water in which to practise and train.
The Trust believes that safety issues at a number of the previously considered sites precludes their further consideration; these include Eely Point, near the Yacht Club, and Waterfall Creek. Refer to Appendix A1.
The intention of the QLDC to separate motorised and non-motorised water-based activities, evidenced most recently in the removal of the water-ski lane in front of Edgewater, provides comfort to the lake swimmers, rowers and other users that they can carry out their recreational activities in a safe environment. The use of motorised coach boats to support training is an exception, since coaches are made aware of the presence of swimmers, and are trained to ensure that the space is safely shared.
The nearby playground and community barbeque, which are used by both locals and visitors, do not currently have toilet amenities in the immediate vicinity. The concept for the Watersports Facility includes public toilet facilities, including an accessible unit.
A summary of reasons for favouring the Roys Bay site are:
· limiting motorised water craft from much of the western shore provides a safe environment for non-motorised water-based recreational activities
· non-motorised watersports can be collected and catered for in a single building, which avoids the likelihood of multiple buildings on the lakeshore
· proximity to existing swim buoy line
· walk and cycle accessibility for school-aged users
· no conflict with casual swimmers, walkers and cyclists
· family picnic, barbeque and playing activities which take place nearby are supported by the inclusion of public toilets in the proposed facility
2.9 The Wanaka Lake Swimmers club, Wanaka Rowing Club and individual athletes currently use the south-western corner of Roys Bay for their activities. This use has been established for at least the last six years.
2.10 The Trust’s objective in making a submission is to ensure that the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan makes provision to enable the construction and operation of a facility on the lakefront to support water-based recreational activities.
3.0 Submission
3.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust supports the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan.
3.2 The Trust supports the vision and outcomes of the plan; in particular 7.1: "Manage the impact of built infrastructure on the natural amenity values of the reserves by minimising built facilities and appropriate alignment of facilities".
3.3 The Trust supports the following general management policies:
7.2.1.3
The Trust accepts that any proposal for a Watersports Facility building will need to go through the Resource Consent process before being able to apply for a Building Permit, notwithstanding the adoption of this Management Plan.
7.2.1.9
The Trust agrees that any building must be designed and sited to maintain public access without any impediment.
7.2.1.12
The Trust accepts that the tenure for any building will be by way of concession in accordance with Council policy.
3.4 The Trust supports objective 7.2.2 relating to recreation and events, and all policies relating to that objective.
3.5 The Trust supports objective 7.2.3 relating to landscape, and all policies relating to that objective.
3.6 The Trust supports the following specific policy for Roys Bay:
8.8.3.2
The Trust believes that its proposal for a Watersports Facility is consistent with the objectives of the Management Plan, and that the proposed site is the only site that meets the needs of all the targeted users as an area that provides a safe environment to carry out non-motorised water-based recreational pursuits.
3.7 The Trust seeks that specific mention is made in section 8.8.2 that the Reserve in the south-western corner of Roys Bay is an appropriate area to be used by rowers, swimmers, tri and multi-sport athletes, stand-up paddleboarders, kayakers and other non-motorised watersports. Policy 8.8.2 should allow access to this area of the lake that has a long reach parallel with the western shore in relatively shallow water, and has less potential for conflict with motorboats than the eastern shore. Policy 8.8.2 should explicitly state the intention of the Council to provide a safe separation between motorised and non-motorised watersports by concentrating facilities for each respectively on the east and west shores. However, the policy should not exclude motorised boats, as motorised coach boats are used in training for non-motorised watersports such as rowing.
4.0 Reasons for Submission
4.1 The Trust is submitting in favour of the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan because the objectives and policies of the Plan provide the Trust with the opportunity to establish what it sees as a desirable and worthwhile, single, privately-funded, multi-user community facility to cater for, and enhance participation in, non-motorised watersports.
5.0 Hearing
5.1 The Trust wishes to be heard in support of its submission.
1.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust is a charitable trust set up to promote the construction of a multi-use building to support non-motorised water-based activities in Lake Wanaka.
1.2 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust supports the draft Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan, and the direction and vision of the plan.
1.3 The Trust supports the following general management policies:
7.2.1.3
7.2.1.9
7.2.1.12
1.4 The Trust supports objective 7.2.2 relating to recreation and events, and all policies relating to that objective.
1.5 The Trust supports objective 7.2.3 relating to landscape, and all policies relating to that objective.
1.6 The Trust supports policy 8.8.3.2 for Roys Bay.
1.7 The Trust seeks that specific mention is made in section 8.8.2 that the Reserve in the south-western corner of Roys Bay is an appropriate area to be used by rowers, swimmers, tri and multi-sport athletes, stand-up paddleboarders, kayakers and other non-motorised watersports. Policy 8.8.2 should allow access to this area of the lake that has a long reach parallel with the western shore in relatively shallow water, and has less potential for conflict with motorboats than the eastern shore. Policy 8.8.2 should explicitly state the intention of the Council to provide a safe separation between motorised and non-motorised watersports by concentrating facilities for each respectively on the east and west shores. However, the policy should not exclude motorised boats, as motorised coach boats are used in training for non-motorised watersports such as rowing.
1.8 The Trust believes that the south-western corner of Roys Bayis the only site for a multi-use building to support non-motorised water-based activities in Lake Wanaka that meets the needs of all the targeted users, and is an area that provides a safe environment to carry out non-motorised water-based recreational pursuits.
1.9 The Trust wishes to be heard in support of its submission.
2.0 Background to this Submission
2.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust (the Trust) is a charitable trust set up to establish and operate a facility "to provide an operational base for Watersports conducted by community groups or incorporated bodies in the Wanaka region and ad hoc or seasonal visitors to the Wanaka region to enable those organisations to enhance and expand their memberships and to enable general public participation in Watersports, including in particular youth participation."
2.2 The Trust originated in the Wanaka Rowing Club’s desire to construct a clubrooms building for storage of their own rowing skiffs and gym equipment, but has expanded into a more comprehensive organisation catering to a wider range of watersports groups, not otherwise catered for in the Wanaka Yacht Club.
2.3 The Trust Board comprises three independent trustees and two trustees nominated to represent user groups. These user groups currently include the lake swimmers, rowers, kayakers, and members of the multi-sport fraternity. These user groups are not exclusive, and further watersports groups (e.g. stand-up paddleboarders, white water kayakers) or individual participants will be able to be included in the future.
2.4 The Trust has a philosophy, similar to the Halberg Trust, of ensuring accessibility for physically disabled users.
2.5 The growing popularity of competing in events, by locals and visitors, is evidenced in the media. Such events as Challenge Wanaka, Motutapu Xterra, Goldrush, Red Bull Adventure Race, God Zone Adventure Race, Spring Challenge (women only adventure race) are on the increase in number, indicating a ground swell of interest in participating in all these activities.
Xterra and Adventure Racing, which include long legs of kayaking and swimming, are increasingly using Wanaka and the surrounding wilderness as a venue for their races. International viewing of these events presents Wanaka in a favourable light for the 'outdoor' tourist.
Wanaka has also become a popular training location for international-rated multi-sport athletes. A brief list of top-tier triathletes who have recently been training in Wanaka includes: the NZ Triathalon Team (including local Olympian Nicky Samuels, Andrea Hewitt - Olympian ranked #5 in the world); the Dutch Triathalon Team; Javier Gomez (Olympic silver medallist, 3-time world champion); Jodie Stimpson (current #1 world); and Coach Darren Smith's squad (Darren coaches four of the top 20 women from the London Olympics).
Lake Wanaka is one of the best training grounds in the country for multi-sport, which is why a number of top past and present Coast to Coast athletes choose to live in Wanaka. Locally-based top-level tri and multi-sport athletes include: Braden Currie, Gina Crawford, Keith Murray, Jess Simpson and Dougall Allan.
The successes of such locally-based and international athletes inspires more people to participate, and the proposed Watersports Facility will support such participation.
2.6 Lake Wanaka Tourism has a branding promotion called "Lifestyle Reserve". A facility on the lakefront is a good fit for the many residents and visitors whose lifestyle includes water-based sports.
2.7 The Trust believes that a building is needed to support non-motorised water-based activities, and that it needs to be on the waterfront.
Like the Yacht Club, which needs to store boats on-site, the rowing club also needs a lakefront boatshed for their skiffs and other equipment. Rowing skiffs, generally club-owned items, are both large (too long for a roof rack) and delicate objects (with easily damaged riggers and thin hulls). In order to make efficient use of the best time for training - 6 am to 8 am - the equipment needs to be adjacent to the water.
A Watersports Facility on the lakeshore would provide discreet changing facilities for the lake swimmers, as well as necessary toilets for swim starts. The presence of duck itch throughout Roys Bay means that a rinsing facility is needed, and the availability of hot showers immediately after distance swimming, especially in the colder months, is also important.
Strength training for down-river racing benefits from a body of water that allows a long round trip, so that transporting of kayaks is minimised. Racing kayaks, which are often over 5 m long, are fragile and easily damaged. A storage facility for kayaks on the lakeshore would allow a more efficient use of training time, and would help to limit the number of times that kayaks are loaded on and off roof racks.
2.8 The Rowing Club has extensively explored options and sites. In 2010, eight sites were looked at for a boatshed/clubrooms facility, from Glendhu Bay around to Eely Point, and the pros and cons of each evaluated in a report (refer to WRC Comparison of Possible Sites for Proposed Clubrooms in Appendix A). Concept plans were prepared for three of these sites (at the Yacht Club, Eely Point and Tapley Paddock) as well as for a further site at Stoney Creek. Due to the degree of compromise required to make these sites feasible, and the safety issues at some of the sites, they have been abandoned.
This tenth site, i.e. the south western end of Roys Bay (Roys Bay site), is now the site that satisfies all issues generated by the exploration of the other sites. The location also works for other watersports groups, allowing a single building to meet the needs of a range of users, thus preventing proliferation of separate facilities on the lakefront reserves.
Over the last four years, a line of swim buoys has been extended from the south-western corner of Roys Bay along part of the main lake frontage. The Wanaka Lake Swimmers currently meet at the Stoney Creek carpark to change, and then swim either beside the line of buoys or along the western shore towards Ruby Island. Since swimmers can be hard to see, it is vitally important that the use of motorised water craft is limited in an area frequently used for this activity. The most suitable location for a building to house the facilities needed by the lake swimmers is near the Stoney Creek carpark, which gives access to safe parts of the lake.
The Roys Bay site allows access to a stretch of water that is often calm, allowing kayakers and rowers to launch without being swamped. Rowing skiffs and K-1 (Olympic) kayaks are narrow, tippy boats; users require a long reach of calm water in which to train, ideally 2.5 km long.
The Roys Bay site has the conditions needed by swimmers, rowers and kayakers: access to the swim buoys; access to a safe area of the lake; and access to a long reach of flat water in which to practise and train.
The Trust believes that safety issues at a number of the previously considered sites precludes their further consideration; these include Eely Point, near the Yacht Club, and Waterfall Creek. Refer to Appendix A1.
The intention of the QLDC to separate motorised and non-motorised water-based activities, evidenced most recently in the removal of the water-ski lane in front of Edgewater, provides comfort to the lake swimmers, rowers and other users that they can carry out their recreational activities in a safe environment. The use of motorised coach boats to support training is an exception, since coaches are made aware of the presence of swimmers, and are trained to ensure that the space is safely shared.
The nearby playground and community barbeque, which are used by both locals and visitors, do not currently have toilet amenities in the immediate vicinity. The concept for the Watersports Facility includes public toilet facilities, including an accessible unit.
A summary of reasons for favouring the Roys Bay site are:
· limiting motorised water craft from much of the western shore provides a safe environment for non-motorised water-based recreational activities
· non-motorised watersports can be collected and catered for in a single building, which avoids the likelihood of multiple buildings on the lakeshore
· proximity to existing swim buoy line
· walk and cycle accessibility for school-aged users
· no conflict with casual swimmers, walkers and cyclists
· family picnic, barbeque and playing activities which take place nearby are supported by the inclusion of public toilets in the proposed facility
2.9 The Wanaka Lake Swimmers club, Wanaka Rowing Club and individual athletes currently use the south-western corner of Roys Bay for their activities. This use has been established for at least the last six years.
2.10 The Trust’s objective in making a submission is to ensure that the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan makes provision to enable the construction and operation of a facility on the lakefront to support water-based recreational activities.
3.0 Submission
3.1 The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust supports the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan.
3.2 The Trust supports the vision and outcomes of the plan; in particular 7.1: "Manage the impact of built infrastructure on the natural amenity values of the reserves by minimising built facilities and appropriate alignment of facilities".
3.3 The Trust supports the following general management policies:
7.2.1.3
The Trust accepts that any proposal for a Watersports Facility building will need to go through the Resource Consent process before being able to apply for a Building Permit, notwithstanding the adoption of this Management Plan.
7.2.1.9
The Trust agrees that any building must be designed and sited to maintain public access without any impediment.
7.2.1.12
The Trust accepts that the tenure for any building will be by way of concession in accordance with Council policy.
3.4 The Trust supports objective 7.2.2 relating to recreation and events, and all policies relating to that objective.
3.5 The Trust supports objective 7.2.3 relating to landscape, and all policies relating to that objective.
3.6 The Trust supports the following specific policy for Roys Bay:
8.8.3.2
The Trust believes that its proposal for a Watersports Facility is consistent with the objectives of the Management Plan, and that the proposed site is the only site that meets the needs of all the targeted users as an area that provides a safe environment to carry out non-motorised water-based recreational pursuits.
3.7 The Trust seeks that specific mention is made in section 8.8.2 that the Reserve in the south-western corner of Roys Bay is an appropriate area to be used by rowers, swimmers, tri and multi-sport athletes, stand-up paddleboarders, kayakers and other non-motorised watersports. Policy 8.8.2 should allow access to this area of the lake that has a long reach parallel with the western shore in relatively shallow water, and has less potential for conflict with motorboats than the eastern shore. Policy 8.8.2 should explicitly state the intention of the Council to provide a safe separation between motorised and non-motorised watersports by concentrating facilities for each respectively on the east and west shores. However, the policy should not exclude motorised boats, as motorised coach boats are used in training for non-motorised watersports such as rowing.
4.0 Reasons for Submission
4.1 The Trust is submitting in favour of the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan because the objectives and policies of the Plan provide the Trust with the opportunity to establish what it sees as a desirable and worthwhile, single, privately-funded, multi-user community facility to cater for, and enhance participation in, non-motorised watersports.
5.0 Hearing
5.1 The Trust wishes to be heard in support of its submission.
Submission Information Sheet
The Trust has prepared the following information sheet to help people in writing their own submission in support of the Watersports proposal.
Wanaka Rowing Club's Submission
Wanaka Lake Swimmers' Submission
The Wanaka Lake swimmers club would like to endorse the Wanaka Lakefront reserves management plan. Specifically we would like to see section 8.8.3.2 ratified.
We are a growing club (currently over 70 members) who regularly use the south west corner of Roys bay throughout spring, summer and autumn, for recreational and training swims.
The prospect of having a building base in that corner would strengthen our presence there and enable us to have safe changing and toilet facilities. A drench shower for cleaning off after a swim to prevent duck itch is a great benefit to us.
The presence of a Watersports Facility would encourage swimmers and other non-motorised lake users to use the SW corner of Roy's Bay, rather than the busy marina area or water ski lanes.
Because we currently need to someone to borrow and bring a kayak to the lake in order to accompany our swims, permanent kayak storage would allow us to provide safety support whenever necessary.
The Facility would keep our belongings (bikes, clothes, car keys, etc) secure while we are swimming.
Lake swimming is growing in popularity and there is nowhere more spectacular to swim than in Lake Wanaka. Our Club liaises with elite athletes and enthusiastic beginners from all over NZ and around the world. A dedicated Watersports Facility will only enhance our community's reputation as an amazing place to live, learn, play, and train.
We are a growing club (currently over 70 members) who regularly use the south west corner of Roys bay throughout spring, summer and autumn, for recreational and training swims.
The prospect of having a building base in that corner would strengthen our presence there and enable us to have safe changing and toilet facilities. A drench shower for cleaning off after a swim to prevent duck itch is a great benefit to us.
The presence of a Watersports Facility would encourage swimmers and other non-motorised lake users to use the SW corner of Roy's Bay, rather than the busy marina area or water ski lanes.
Because we currently need to someone to borrow and bring a kayak to the lake in order to accompany our swims, permanent kayak storage would allow us to provide safety support whenever necessary.
The Facility would keep our belongings (bikes, clothes, car keys, etc) secure while we are swimming.
Lake swimming is growing in popularity and there is nowhere more spectacular to swim than in Lake Wanaka. Our Club liaises with elite athletes and enthusiastic beginners from all over NZ and around the world. A dedicated Watersports Facility will only enhance our community's reputation as an amazing place to live, learn, play, and train.
