A proposed mini-golf development on recreation reserve land at the Wanaka Golf Course has attracted 21 submissions, most of them in opposition.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council publicly notified its intention to approve a sub-lease to Wanaka Fun Park Ltd for a mini-golf development on the corner of Ballantyne Rd and Stratford Tce. The Wanaka Golf Club's objective in offering back the land to the council by way of a sub-lease is to generate additional income for maintaining and upgrading the facility without increasing green fees.
The proposal would result in some of the land being available for council use, and consideration is being given to putting public car-parking on the road reserve part of the corner site.
Fourteen submissions were against the mini-golf proposal, five were in favour and two were neutral.
Several submitters objected on the grounds the development would set a "dangerous precedent" by allowing commercial activities on reserves.
However, council property manager Joanne Conroy said that was already happening "all over the place", although that did not necessarily mean "it's right for this one".
Arguments made in several of the submissions that the proposal was "illegal" under the Reserves Act were contrary to advice given by the Department of Conservation, Ms Conroy said.
Golf Course Rd resident John Coe was concerned about what would happen if the proposal failed, and said that visually, the development proposed was "quite incongruous" with the area.
MacPherson St property owner Roger Boyd said there was something "rather fishy" about the whole proposal.
"The proposed venture appears highly commercially delicate, even before building has commenced. It just doesn't add up," Mr Boyd wrote.
The Wanaka Trust was concerned that in light of council's decision last year to approve a frisbee golf course on reserve land at Lismore Park, "there appears to be a strategy afoot for erosion of such land and its use by the community at large".
Those in favour of the proposal were associated with the golf club or Wanaka Fun Park Ltd. Golf club manager Kim Badger said the development would provide good family entertainment in a quiet location.
