Submissions on the representation review, progress on the lakefront development plan and activities at the Wanaka Recreation Centre (WRC) are all topics up for discussion at today’s (Thursday August 12) Wanaka Community Board (WCB) meeting. 

The board last met in early July and today’s meeting will take place at 10am at the Lake Wānaka Centre. 

An update on stage three of the lakefront development plan, which is due for a belated completion date in early September, and progress on stage two, whereby tenders should be issued by the end of September, are both on today’s schedule.

News about the district’s library network (which shows Wanaka as by far the busiest library in the district, with more than 170,000 books issued in the last financial year) will also be provided; as well as details of the recent goings-on at the Wanaka Recreation Centre.

The fate of the board itself will also be discussed at the meeting.

Council staff will provide details for the board on the district wide representation review - which could see the WCB ousted. The review also signals an extra councillor for Wanaka.

Meeting documents show 301 people from around the district made submissions on the recommendations, which passed by “the narrowest of margins” according to former review group member Viv Milsom.

Submitters had the opportunity to comment on the original proposal but they could also raise any other suggested ways of achieving ‘fair and effective’ representation throughout the district. 

Hearings of submissions will take place at the end of August and a decision will be made by full council on whether to disband the board or change the proposal by September 16.

PHOTO: QLDC