Concerms over a lack of consultation on a proposed boat ramp at Glendhu Bay were raised at the Wanaka Community Board yesterday.
Glendhu Station owner Pam McRae and Wanaka Residents Association chairman Graham Dickson said they only became aware of the plans after noticing marker pegs on the beach.
"I have concerns that the only consultation in the planning process was with water users," Mr Dickson said. "The whole thing seems to have been driven by water interests rather than reserve interests."
A reserve area to the west of the Glendhu Bay LakesideHoliday Park, obtained by the Queenstown Lakes District Council through tenure review, has long been earmarked as a suitable place for a boat ramp.
There is already a boat ramp within the camping ground which is available for public use, but during the busy summer period access becomes difficult.
Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black recently gained consent to put a ramp in the centre of the beach reserve, but its construction was put on hold after members of the public and the community board pointed out the area was also suitable for other users and the position of the proposed boat ramp was crucial to the usefulness of the whole area. Concept plans for a site about 80m to the east were proposed and approved by the board yesterday.
Mr Dickson favoured the second option as it "leaves the centre of the beach for the picnics and the swimmers" and placed the ramp nearer the existing boating activities and the ski lane.
"It's the only good swimming beach on the west side of the lake that's got public access.
"It needs to be recognised as an important beach reserve, not just a place to launch boats."
Mrs McRae also rejected the original site and raised safety concerns over the location of the proposed ramp's access road.
Both said it was vital the existing boat ramp within the camping ground was maintained and board chairman Lyal Cocks assured them there was no risk of losing it.
"If anything, we'd like to enhance it. The whole purpose was to have a good reserve in another area where non-campers could come to launch their boats," Mr Cocks said.
He acknowledged concerns about the proximity of the new site to the ski lane and shingle build up, but said those issues were "not insurmountable".
"This is an idyllic reserve and we should be looking at it so we get it right for the long term."
The concept plan option approved by the community board will require a variation to the original resource consent and an application to the annual plan process for additional funding.
