Respondents to the latest round of feedback on the Earnslaw Park upgrade in Queenstown have disagreed with the proposal to establish a cafe attached the park toilets.
Following the raising of the joint cafe-toilets idea from Wai Dining Group, the Queenstown Lakes District Council decided to consult the public further and then held a public workshop and invited additional formal feedback.
It received 12 submissions, 10 opposing the plan and two offering suggestions such as making the cafe smoke-free and "friendly" for breast-feeding.
In May the council heard from Baxter Design Group principal Paddy Baxter there was a potential for more seating in Earnslaw Park if the park's willow trees were removed and the focus of the subsequent round of consultation was whether the willow trees should stay or be removed.
Then the focus turned to whether the council should build and lease a cafe as part of the Earnslaw Park toilet block development.
Many were opposed to the "commercial element". Graham Roebeck submitted the toilets should be upgraded and replaced and smaller vendors on the perimeter offered cafe services.
Chris Vile wrote: "It is not the role of [the] council to be engaging in this type of activity".
Other submitters mentioned the number of eating places in Queenstown was already sufficient.
Simon Morrison-Deaker wrote in his submission: "The cafe will be detrimental to current businesses operating in the area and is not required in the area."
In his opinion, the development would be "a waste of QLDC funds and resources".
The submissions will be discussed at the next community services meeting on October 23.
