A gateway roundabout at the entrance to Wanaka's Ardmore St retail area has been approved, despite ongoing concerns from local business owners about tourism visitor traffic being diverted from the area.
Wanaka Community Board members assured local business retailers their interests were at the forefront of considerations regarding the planned roundabout at the intersection of Brownston St and Upper Ardmore St.
The board approved a design and concept plan, which shifted the location of the roundabout about 16m to the east, and has promised affected retailers in Ardmore St they will be consulted on "specifics" before the roundabout's construction is finalised.
A final decision on when construction may begin on the $2.25 million roundabout lies with the New Zealand Transport Agency, which is yet to confirm whether it will supply an anticipated 53% share of funding.
QLDC project manager Rob Darby told board members the council wanted to complete the roundabout before Christmas, otherwise the next construction window would not be until February.
Ardmore St grocery shop owner-operator James Backhouse, who made a submission to the board on behalf of about 30 business owners, said the timing of construction could have a significant effect on retailers.
He asked for the construction to take place during the quiet shoulder season months of May and June.
Retailers and business owners were concerned tourism traffic would be directed along Brownston St instead of the retail area of Ardmore St, which had always been the main entrance to Wanaka and the lakefront, he said.
Appropriate signs had to be put in place to ensure motorists driving into Wanaka were told the retail area and lakefront were accessed via Ardmore St, Mr Backhouse said.
Ardmore St property owner Owen Hopgood complained about how access to the site of the old Barrows Hotel would be affected and how he stood to lose all of his commercial tenants if the roundabout went ahead as planned.
Community board chairman Lyal Cocks said he could not see how the roundabout would introduce changes that would be any worse than the existing situation and traffic flows.
The decision to build a roundabout had come as a response to business concerns and requests to change traffic flows to make upper Ardmore St more of a "retail destination".
Board member Jude Battson agreed with Mr Cocks that the overall aim of the project was to make a better change for business owners and the "intention has always been [to] keep their plans firmly in our minds".
