Marjorie Cook

Queenstown has an oversupply of apartments, tourist accommodation and office space, which is forcing down some retail and office rentals, according to a national valuation company.

When it comes to holes in the ground, Queenstown and Wanaka residents know how to dig them.

A power cut in Wanaka about 11am yesterday was caused by a fault in protection equipment at the Wanaka substation, Delta systems control manager Graeme Johnson, of Cromwell, said yesterday.

The Cavalcade Host Town Committee has given $16,500 to a range of Wanaka organisations for helping with the finale celebrations on February 27, which attracted thousands of spectators and featured more than 600 cavalcade participants.

Developers may have to provide for vehicle parks in Wanaka's town centre by 2012, but the Wanaka Community Board is concerned that is not soon enough.

Detailed designs for a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Ardmore and Brownston Sts in Wanaka should be completed by the end of June, and construction is likely to begin sometime in the 2010-11 financial year.

Submitters to the Mt Aspiring National Park management plan should receive a response to the points they raised within the next few weeks, Department of Conservation Otago conservancy community relations manager Ken Stewart said yesterday.

A horse fell down a bank into a culvert near Lake Hawea about 4.30pm yesterday, briefly trapping its rider underneath.

The fire risk in Wanaka remains extremely high and the fast-moving grass fire on Ballantyne Rd on Wednesday was a good reminder to householders in danger near the urban-rural boundary to make evacuation plans, Wanaka's fire chief Steve Trevathan said.

Wanaka businessman Mike Saunders has called for the Queenstown Lakes District Council to stop revisiting alternative sites for sports facilities and show some leadership by choosing the combined showgrounds and camping reserve.