A need for more pensioner housing in Wanaka is part of a wider problem where demand for aged care services in the town outweighs supply, advocates for the elderly say.
While the shortage of pensioner units in the Queenstown-Lakes district is not a new issue, concerns have resurfaced after recent Otago Daily Times coverage about the lack of space at Wanaka's only rest-home, Elmslie House, which is consistently full with a waiting list several names long.
An ageing population and Wanaka's popularity as a retirement destination are placing increasing pressure on Elmslie House and a new aged care facility being built next to the Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village is still about 18 months away.
Further compounding the situation is the fact Wanaka has just five pensioner units owned by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
It owns another four units in Arrowtown, bringing the total across the district to nine, less than a tenth of the number provided by the Central Otago District Council, which owns 99 units across Central Otago.
Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust trustee Dr Dennis Pezaro, of Wanaka, said he and others in the community had been pushing for more pensioner housing in the district for years.
''Unfortunately, a lot of the older houses in Wanaka have been bought up by visitors, but we've been working a long time to try and get more pensioner-type cottages,'' Dr Pezaro said.
''I think it's going to be an increasing problem as more people grow out of their ability to look after themselves, but don't have the resources to go into the retirement village.''
The QLDC previously held more land next to the Wanaka pensioner units, on the corner of McDougall and Upton Sts, on which it had intended to build additional housing, Dr Pezaro said.
However, the land was sold ''some years ago'' and was still sitting vacant.
Upper Clutha Senior Citizens (Prime Timers) co-ordinator Vivienne Fitzgerald said the need for more pensioner housing in Wanaka had been discussed ''for a long time'' at social service agency meetings.
''It's something that's raised often ... It's been brought up by elderly members of the community time and time again.''
A recent survey of older people in the Upper Clutha also identified pensioner housing as a key area which needed to be addressed.
Three of Wanaka's five pensioner units were occupied by Upper Clutha Senior Citizens members and Mrs Fitzgerald said others would ''definitely scoop them up'' if more were available.
''The people in them have been in them for a long time, so there is no turnover for people wanting more housing.''
Age Concern Central Otago co-ordinator Marina Rodger regularly received feedback from people working with the elderly in Wanaka about the lack of pensioner housing.
''And I think [other] people think that it's not needed there. They think it's a young town and a tourist town and the older people certainly aren't given the recognition that they maybe need to be given.''
QLDC communications manager Michele Poole said the council had no plans to build more pensioner housing in the next 10 years.
''There is no provision in the current 10-year plan and none is currently included in the draft 2015-25 plan.''
The history of the land next to the Wanaka units was not immediately available, Ms Poole said.
Pensioner housing
• Queenstown Lakes District Council area: five units in Wanaka, four in Arrowtown.
• Central Otago District Council area: 23 units in Alexandra, three in Clyde, 32 in Cromwell, 26 in Ranfurly and 15 in Roxburgh.
