Tracey Roxburgh

The Queenstown Lakes District Council's policy and planning general manager, Philip Pannett, said the plan change 19 interim decision, which was released to all parties this week, established the ''general direction'' of the way the Frankton Flats area would develop over time, from its present greenfields, largely rural state, to a ''fully integrated urban area''.

Jumping out of a plane at 20,000 feet wearing a suit inspired by a flying squirrel and reaching speeds of up to 250kmh may be hard for people to understand.

A proposed new building, to include much-needed public toilets at Millbrook corner, took another step forward yesterday, after the building and associated amenities were approved in principle by the Queenstown Lakes District Council Community Services committee.

Hundreds of people in the Wakatipu proved romance was not dead yesterday and by sending bouquets of flowers, chocolates, cupcakes and wine to their loved ones through Wild Poppies Flowers, helped raise money for St John.

A Queenstown bus trial between the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and Connectabus, which has been going for the past 32 months, has been hailed a success, with support now meaning the bus service provider can now operate on a stand-alone basis.

Budding and experienced chefs are being asked to find inspiration close to home for the second annual Glenorchy Local Wild Food Challenge, being held at the head of the lake on February 23.

A Queenstown bar which used a social networking site to threaten to kill two ''lads'' who allegedly stole its mobile eftpos machine last month, yesterday received a visit from Queenstown police.

The cemeteries in Queenstown and Frankton would be full sometime between the next 12 months and five years, the Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee was told yesterday.

The next generation of budding cricketers in Queenstown is being encouraged to apply for a share of a $100,000 national grant as part of the ANZ Cricket Grant Scheme.

An Argentinian man proved the way to councillors' hearts was through their stomachs at a Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee meeting yesterday - providing the councillors, staff, media and public with complimentary South American pasties ahead of the committee discussing his application for a 10-year rental of a proposed Earnslaw Park kiosk.