Stage two of lakefront development opening to public

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

Wānaka locals will soon be able to enjoy a greatly improved community space, with stage two of the Wānaka Lakefront Development Plan opening to the public on Friday (October 21).

“At over three-and-a-half metres wide and stretching from the Mount Aspiring Rd car park through to Wānaka’s town centre, the new shared pathway running alongside the lake will provide the continuous access this project has championed to date,” Queenstown Lakes District Council community services general manager Ken Bailey said in a statement.

The pathway also played host to the historic Te Huruhuru’s Map – a recreation of the first map of the area that aided early explorers, he said.

“While lawn areas have been seeded and need a few more weeks to reach their green and grassy potential, when they’re ready to host your picnic or play we’ll really start to realise what a people-friendly place we’ve got down here.”

The section of Ardmore St between McDougall and Dungarvon streets would also open back up to two lanes of traffic, and 110 new car parking spaces would be available for use along the lakefront.

Time restrictions would be trialled across the different parking bays, with a maximum limit of up to four hours in some sections to encourage considerate use of the lakefront reserve.

“The purpose of creating parking along Ardmore St was to remove the dominance of vehicles on Wānaka’s premium recreational space, and the time restriction trial is an opportunity to see how these new spaces are used and to tailor our future approach to meet the community’s need,” Bailey said.

A recommendation on parking restrictions would be made to the Wānaka Community Board for its final approval following the trial period.

Bailey thanked the Wānaka community for their patience during the upgrades, acknowledging changes to Ardmore St would have extended a few commutes and that a large chunk of the lakefront had been unavailable over the winter months.