Vehicles will be banned from part of a downtown Queenstown street during an eight-month trial that could usher in further pedestrianisation.
The Beach St trial was approved unanimously by the Queenstown Lakes District Council at its regular meeting yesterday, but its start date was delayed from January 10 to February 1 in response to criticism at the public forum.
A 100m stretch of Beach St between Camp St and Cow Lane will be closed to vehicles from 10am to 5am, while goods service vehicles will be able to use the road from 5am to 10am.
Speaking at the public forum, Bidvest Foodservice assistant manager Mike Byers said the trial was "ad hoc, ill-conceived and not thoroughly thought through'', and affected businesses were not informed of its start date and duration.
A January 10 start would not leave his company with enough time to consult its staff, who would have to start earlier in the morning to deliver food to its 11 customers in the zone.
Queenstown lawyer Bryce Whiting said eight months was "far too long'' for a temporary closure, and three months was more appropriate.
The council's failure to adequately disclose the length and timing of the trial had "invalidated the decision-making process'', and interested parties should be re-notified.
Pharmacy owner Kim Wilkinson said he was concerned about the loss of car parks and the effect the trial would have on traffic flows on surrounding streets.
But DowntownQT general manager Steve Wilde said the trial had the strong backing of CBD businesses.
The resort was on a path towards pedestrianisation of its entire CBD, and businesses such as Bidvest would have to adapt.
"This is how it's going to be.''
When the trial ends on September 25, the council will consider making the move permanent.
It will compare data on cashless transactions at Beach St businesses during the trial with data from previous years.
The impact on traffic will be assessed, while affected business operators and other interested parties will be surveyed towards the end of the trial.
