Push on for Wanaka town centre plan

Momentum is gathering on a community-driven initiative to develop a Wanaka town centre plan.
    Representatives for the Heart of Wanaka project have presented a progress update and memorandum of understanding to the Wanaka Community Board. The Heart of Wanaka steering group has been reviewing earlier town centre plans going back over a decade.
    Steering group leader Andrew Howard said last week all the earlier work had been considered and the group would not reinvent the wheel.
    ‘‘Rather they are putting together a plan that will address the changing post-Covid world, community concerns and aspirations,’’ he said.
    The group would begin sharing draft ideas for the first round of public engagement over the next weeks, Mr Howard said.
    The public would be asked to review and comment on a draft vision, development and funding.
    ‘‘A key feature of the planning is not to provide a single 30-year master plan, which is difficult to attain in a growing area and a diversity of opinion.
    ‘‘Instead the steering group is presenting two plans; one a short-term plan with obvious items that could be completed within a five-year time frame.
    ‘‘The second plan is a longer-term vision plan that contains the more aspirational and complex ideas that will require greater investigation and feasibility,’’ Mr Howard said.
    Heart of Wanaka drop-in sessions were held at the Lake Wanaka Centre yesterday.
    The next drop-in sessions are tomorrow, from 10am-noon and 4pm-6pm.
    More public feedback will be sought once refined plans have been released in October.
    The steering group hopes to present a final plan to the Wanaka Community Board in early 2023.
    More information is on the Heart of Wanaka website.