Membership of sports clubs was booming in Wānaka but they were squeezed for space to train and play games, while outdoor grounds were becoming mud baths and damaged from overuse, they said.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council had long-term plan hearings in Wānaka yesterday at which questions arose about why planned upgrades had been deferred while ground improvements were happening in Queenstown.
Club members said they had been led to believe from many LTP consultations since 2011 they would be "first cab off the rank" for sports fields improvements.
To learn this year the upgrades had been deferred again for another three years was now causing a rift, especially because Queenstown sports facility initiatives suddenly appeared in this year’s draft LTP and been allocated higher priority, club officials told councillors.
Wānaka-Upper Clutha Board chairman Simon Telfer and board member John Wellington had their backs.
Mr Telfer advocated the council bring forward the development of Ballantyne Rd land to 2025.
"Don't push it out further. When you get such a groundswell of support we need to act on that otherwise the whole credibility of consultation process falls over ... move it forward to make a more equitable investment in Wānaka," Mr Telfer said.
Mr Wellington said if things had gone to plan, the Ballantyne Rd sports fields would have been completed by now.
"From being the first cab off the rank, it is now the last. At a minimum Ballantyne Rd should start at the same time [as the Queenstown projects]. Reschedule the other two projects if you have to ... This would restore equitability and help rebalance the distribution of community funding over the district plan," Mr Wellington said.
Meanwhile Wānaka developer Allan Dippie has promised the council he will fund 50% of an upgrade to Ruby Island Rd, from which he gains access to his west Wānaka property.
His offer was pounced on by deputy mayor Quentin Smith and duly noted by all councillors yesterday. .
Mr Dippie said he had met with Guardians of Lake Wānaka and learned road improvements could stop silt going into the lake. He was happy to contribute financially to stop that happening and the council could hold him to his promise, he said.
Mr Dippie also spoke in support of the Wānaka Arts and Cultural Charitable Trust’s $70 million building project, for which land in his Three Parks development has been earmarked as a suitable site.
Trust chairman Michael Sidey had earlier confirmed to the councillors the Three Parks site was the most probable, during his submission about sharing the costs of the project with the QLDC and beginning construction in 2027.
Mr Dippie, a WACCT trustee, said there was "an incredible amount" of support for WACCT trustees and their talents. He urged the council to use that support
"to create a truly amazing facility".
