A hearings panel has recommended a mini-golf development proposed for reserve land in Wanaka be declined.
The Wanaka Golf Club had requested a sub-lease for a commercial mini-golf facility on the corner of Stratford Tce and Ballantyne Rd.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council's intention to grant the sub-lease to Lake Outlet Holiday Park operator Glenn Tattersall, of Wanaka Fun Park Limited, was publicly notified, attracting 16 opposing submissions, five in support and two neutral, and a hearing was held last month.
In a decision released yesterday by QLDC property management company APL Property, the hearing panel of Leigh Overton, Dick Kane and Mike O'Connor made their recommendation to decline the sub-lease for several reasons.
They were "not convinced" the proposal complied with the golf club's lease terms under the Reserves Act, which states a trade business "must be necessary to obtain benefit and enjoyment of the reserve or for the convenience of persons using the reserve".
If the sub-lease was granted, the issue of trade competition applied and the council could be seen to be aiding a business which could have competition from other mini-golf businesses, the decision said.
Wanaka has two mini-golf operations, one in the town centre and one near the airport.
The Wanaka Town Strategy had identified the proposed mini-golf land as a potential site for a future community centre or facilities if the existing Lake Wanaka Centre were to become inadequate, so it was "appropriate to leave this centrally placed reserve open to the above options and able to support the town centre".
The panel also considered the proposal contrary to the Community Pricing Policy's stipulation that individuals or groups should not profit from the on-sale or sub-letting of rights provided by the council.
Other factors considered were a proposed new police station on reserve land on the opposite side of Ballantyne Rd and the fact all members of the public had free access to the golf course reserve at present, which would be lost if the proposal went ahead.
The council will consider the hearings panel's recommendation at its meeting next Tuesday in Wanaka.
