Hopes for Albert Town rodeo venue

Wanaka Rodeo Club president Roger Moseby hopes shifting the club's arena to the Albert Town reserve will be supported by a council recommendation this week.

Mr Moseby said confirmation of the shift to Albert Town depended on the move being approved at a Queenstown Lakes District Council hearing panel on Thursday.

The club has a back-up plan to shift the event to Cromwell if it cannot find a suitable venue near Wanaka.

Hearing commissioners will make a recommendation on whether the council's draft management plan for the Albert Town Reserve should be adopted at a QLDC community services committee meeting on September 14.

"The timeframe is the biggest thing for us," Mr Moseby said.

The club needs to prepare a venue for the rodeo at the Albert Town Reserve and this would involve earthworks to create an arena, yards and new roads - which would be much more than "an overnight job".

An event management plan would need to be approved by the QLDC to allow the January 2 rodeo, - but first, a draft management plan for the entire reserve needs to be set in place by the council.

The council's draft plan sets out policy and regulations for the 49ha reserve at Albert Town, which straddles SH6 north of the Clutha River and is bordered by the Hawea River confluence.

The reserve encompasses recreational activities and includes a historic cemetery.

The Wanaka Rodeo Club wants to relocate to Albert Town after their traditional venue off Wanaka's Golf Course Rd was crowded out by a retirement village development.

The rodeo club had considered moving the New Year holiday event, which attracts crowds of about 3000 spectators, to Cromwell but only as "a last resort", Mr Moseby said.

"We don't want to do that because we appreciate the support that has always been given to [the Rodeo Club] by the Wanaka community."

 

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