The board unanimously adopted the Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan, which allows a non-motorised water sports facility to be developed in the southwestern corner of Roys Bay.
Earlier, during the public forum, Wanaka Residents' Association president Sally Battson said the association considered the plan document ''somewhat disappointing'', particularly given the time spent amending the original draft.
''We see it as being very general ... very vague, with the possibility of being interpreted subjectively. And I think that the community and our iconic lake deserve better.''
The Queenstown Lakes District Council's most important job was to implement a plan that met the purpose of the Reserves Act 1977 - to preserve and enhance the outstanding natural landscape of the lake, Mrs Battson said.
Yet there was a conflict between the intention to grant a lease to a water sports building and the requirement to ensure the character of the reserves was not compromised by structures.
''Nothing is known about the character or form that the [water sports facility] lease will take ... the community doesn't have any assurances or ... controls in place within the plan and I think that is of great concern.''
Community board chairwoman Rachel Brown said the Reserves Act was ''a crazy balancing act'' between preservation and providing recreation opportunities.
Preparing the final document had been a ''huge task'' for the panel, on which she served.
''I've worked long and hard in trying to represent the public and the public's view ... we have done a lot of serious deliberation ... and none of this has been taken lightly.''
Ms Brown emphasised there would be public consultation on what happened within the seven Roys Bay activity zones in the plan and a ''really restricted'' building code for new lakefront structures was a priority.
As reported earlier in the Otago Daily Times (11.10.14), a water sports facility will still be subject to district plan requirements and further public scrutiny around where it should be sited within its allocated activity zone.
However, the community will not be consulted on the plan's intention to grant a lease for such a building within the next three years.
Lake Hawea man Don Robertson urged the council to communicate clearly to the public how and when it could be involved in the consultation process on any new lakefront buildings in the zone earmarked for the water sports facility.
