It will be another three years before work on a new sports and events centre at Wanaka is likely to begin, but already questions are being asked about whether it will be big enough, and how it might be expanded.
At a resource consent hearing in Wanaka yesterday, two independent commissioners, Jane Taylor [chairwoman] and Sally Middleton, were presented with the Queenstown Lakes District Council's application for a notice of requirement to have 5.5ha of land designated for the centre.
The land is owned by Willowridge Developments Ltd and Ballantyne Investments Ltd and lies within the proposed Three Parks and North Three Parks residential and commercial subdivisions.
For the council, general manager community services Paul Wilson told the commissioners the greenfields site had been selected over other possibilities after considerable public consultation.
It would be used for an indoor stadium, swimming pool and outdoor sports facilities.
Mr Wilson said earlier planning reports indicated a site of 10ha-12ha "would be ideal" but because of the large areas of existing and potential sports turf in the Wanaka area, he believed the 5.5ha site "will be sufficient at this time".
Questioned by Commissioner Taylor about future-proofing, Mr Wilson said the facility would "readily accommodate" Wanaka's needs for the next 10-15 years.
Commissioner Middleton said she was concerned about how expansion might occur once the centre was surrounded by houses and businesses.
While the 5.5ha site is the developers' reserves contribution the council will acquire at no cost, Mr Wilson said expansion would proably require the council to buy adjacent land.
He considered that was unlikely to occur because of the cost and because the council had large reserves suitable for recreation elsewhere, including 40ha at Hawea Flat.
He said the council had to reach a balance between "needs and affordability" and had to take into account its debt level.
The council's capital works manager, Ken Gousmett, said the council's total budget for the centre for the next three years was $16.8 million, with the majority of expenditure in 2015.
He explained that the proposed buildings would be capable of being expanded to cater for increased demand.
For Willowridge, Allan Dippie said his company supported the council's application at "a general level", but considered there was insufficient car parking. He described the size of the site as "woefully inadequate" and the council concept plan as "flawed".
He opposed plans for on-street parking and recommended the commissioners have the council consider obtaining additional land for future expansion and car parking.
