The Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust (WWFT) commissioned geotechnical consultancy GeoSolve to carry out site investigations for the facility which it hopes to build on Wanaka's lakefront reserve.
The Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Management Plan, adopted by the Wanaka Community Board in October, identified the southwestern corner of Roys Bay as a suitable site for the 460sq m facility.
Trust chairman Michael Sidey said its preferred site for the building within that corner was the one presented to the Queenstown Lakes District Council in submissions on the management plan: in front of two prominent sequoia trees immediately east of the Stoney Creek car park.
''The other site where we are doing exploratory work to determine the structure of the ground is on the other side of Stoney Creek,'' Mr Sidey said.
''These are the preferred sites for a watersports facility as they are the most accessible to all passive lake users, swimmers, rowers, kayakers, paddle boarders et cetera. They are also sites where we can ensure almost no visual disturbance to neighbouring residents.''
Neither site would inconvenience bikers or walkers and both would provide external showers, toilets and bike racks for public use, Mr Sidey said.
Six test pits were dug across the two sites to look at the soil profiles, while penetrometer testing measured liquefaction and bearing strength.
The data from each method of testing would be analysed to help advance the building project.
''We're just getting it all in place so that we can apply for resource consent in the new year,'' Mr Sidey said.
Wanaka-based GeoSolve engineering geologist Graeme Halliday said the soil testing provided a ''fascinating'' insight.
''The history of the area is recorded in the layers ... so you can see what processes have been going on in the region.''
