More than $70,000 has been given to the Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust to help fund an Environment Court hearing.
A letter was sent to supporters of the facility last month asking for donations to help cover the cost of the appeal process.
In July, independent commissioners recommended resource consent be granted for the facility, which was appealed by the Save Wanaka Lakefront Reserves Society about a month later.
The appeal against the facility will now be heard in the Environment Court after a failed attempt at mediation between the two parties.
Trust chairman Michael Sidey said the response from supporters had been outstanding and the trust was financially healthier now than previously.
Members were busy reviewing its expert evidence reports before the submission deadline yesterday.
‘‘It’s a lot of work . . . an unbelievable amount of work but we’re almost there.’’
A date for the hearing had not yet been set, but Mr Sidey said he expected it would be held in March. Three trees near the proposed site had fallen down in strong winds last month which showed the council the replanting of new trees, which would be part of the facility, was needed.
