The Wanaka Chamber of Commerce hosted a public lunchtime forum at Edgewater Resort yesterday, and up to 100 people attended.
The majority of candidates conditionally preferred a greenfields site for the sports facilities, with no public referendum.
Wanaka Community Board candidate Dick Kane was the sole voice for the showgrounds and camping ground option in the centre of town.
All qualified their responses by saying they needed to read final reports from council staff before making a decision.
Only council and board candidate Jude Battson was prepared to call for a public referendum, although she acknowledged the council could decide not to be bound by it.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Cr Lyal Cocks, who is standing for re-election, said the reality was Wanaka would probably have three sports sites in future: the showgrounds facilities, the school site and a third hub of built facilities including a stadium, aquatic centre, hockey turf and netball courts.
He strongly hoped a greenfields site could be obtained for the built facilities and that commercial businesses such as Snow Sports New Zealand and the Academy of Sport would move to the hub.
First-time council and board candidate Jo Dippie was the first of four new council candidates invited to introduce herself and provided light relief at the expense of her cousin "Allan Willowridge".
Ms Dippie explained Willowridge Developments Ltd director Allan Dippie was her cousin.
Ms Dippie is a submitter on causes such as council accountability, freedom camping, and keeping the Cardrona River bed free of rubbish. She runs a bed and breakfast.
Her campaign includes the common election issues of keeping council costs down, having an efficient and cost-effective resource consent process and encouraging small businesses to stay in Wanaka.
The other first-time council candidate is electrician and business owner Scott Jones (35). A married father-of-four, he offered practical experience, liked to get things done and could represent the younger people's voice, he said.
Mr Jones' campaign is based on "reshaping" the 10-year plan to reduce costs, bringing regulatory compliance back to "sensible levels", supporting sustainable development and keeping Wanaka's natural beauty intact.
Jude Battson, of Lake Hawea, is a board member of three terms and is standing for the council for the first time.
Her campaign is based on reducing council spending, finding alternative sources of council income - possibly from the tourist sector - and supporting families struggling to make ends meet.
Carrick Jones, of Wanaka, is another board member standing for the council for the first time.
His campaign focuses on reducing council debt and the rates burden, trimming and re-evaluating the 10-year plan, encouraging investment in tourism and sport, and tightening liquor licensing laws.
"There are far too many disruptive, alcohol-fuelled people about. We have got to protect our young people," he said.
• Standing for three council seats in the Wanaka ward are Jude Battson, Lyal Cocks (sitting councillor), Jo Dippie, Carrick Jones, Scott Jones and Leigh Overton (sitting councillor).
Standing for the four Wanaka Community Board seats are Jude Battson (sitting member), Bill Brooker, Ken Copland (sitting member), Jo Dippie, Carrick Jones (sitting member), Dick Kane (sitting member), Bryan Lloyd and Mike O'Connor.
