The independent organisation Shaping Our Future (SOF) held the first of four facilitated workshops in Wanaka and Queenstown at 1pm on Monday at the Lake Wanaka Centre.
Five board members and eight members of the public attended, three of those coming from Queenstown.
Community Networks manager Kate Murray said the forum was a great idea but she wished "there were more people here".
"I am sitting here thinking ‘where is the community?"’
Queenstown Lakes District Council Deputy Mayor Calum Macleod was also a participant and said "for future reference, holding the meeting at 1 o’clock on a Monday afternoon you are not going to get anyone to come."
SOF chairwoman Vanessa Van Uden replied there was another workshop at 5.30pm, but Cr Macleod said "you are still not going to get mum and the kids."
Ms Van Uden said there was never a perfect time to hold a public workshop and there was an online survey that would continue until the end of March.
She said the results of the workshops and survey would be shared with the council and other stakeholders to get those needs addressed and put plans in place to deliver successful long-term outcomes for the communities.
