After past experiences with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, a Ballantyne Rd resident says he will not be satisfied until he sees actual work being done to improve the road. John Coers said he sent an email to councillors and council staff last week requesting urgent action be taken to improve the safety of the road.
Deputy mayor Calum Macleod, councillor Ella Lawton and chief executive Mike Theelen had replied to the email and informed him of the steps the council would take.
Mr Coers said he would wait to see if any meaningful action to improve the safety of the road occurred, but was pleased the new council seemed to be taking some action.
Having lived on the road for nine years, he had seen many accidents, including one where a vehicle crashed through his front gate.
"There are probably many more accidents on the road than both the police and council are told about," he said.
It was not the first time the council had promised to improve the road but nothing had come of previous assurances, he said.
Many of those in the area who had bought their property more recently had done so on the understanding the road would be fully sealed, he said.
"That was nine years ago and still nothing has been done," Mr Coers said.
"We don’t want much but we just want the road widened, made safer and preferably sealed."
At a council-run workshop on Wednesday, all three Wanaka ward councillors, along with Mayor Jim Boult and Mr Theelen, discussed the Ballantyne Rd issue.
Council staff were asked to investigate the options for a potential upgrade of the road.
In his reply to Mr Coers’ email, Mr Theelen said that a response from staff was expected within the next week. Council staff will also present options on upgrading the road at the first full meeting of the Wanaka Community Board on November 16.
