Welcome to winter! I hope you’ve enjoyed the opportunity to hit the slopes and spend time with family over the school holidays. It’s great to see some domestic tourism picking up around town and an abundance of skis, snowboards, and cheery faces.

While we would like to welcome more of our Australian friends at the moment, the resurgence of Covid-19 in Australia is a harsh reminder to stay vigilant, use the contact tracing app and stay home if you are unwell. 

Winter weather brings increased risks on the road, so please remember to plan your trips with extra time and be aware of hazards.

Have your say on changes to district representation

The council is currently reviewing how it represents the communities across the district and you have an opportunity to have your say. All councils in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to undertake a representation review every six years. A review considers a number of things including how many councillors are required, geographical boundaries of wards, names of those wards, identifying communities of interest, and if community boards should be established or retained. Currently we have 10 councillors representing three wards and one community board. 

The proposed structure would have four wards with 12 councillors. Now is the time to let the council know whether you think the recommended approach will provide fair representation across the district. Head here for more details and to share feedback by August 6.

Parking restrictions in Anderson Heights

At the Wanaka Community Board meeting held on July 8, the board approved parking restrictions for the Anderson Heights commercial area. This followed consultation with the businesses in the area to determine the restrictions required, or otherwise. The parking restrictions convert approximately 68 free parking spaces into one-hour parking spaces and three loading zones, with 90 parking spaces available in the old Mitre 10 car park. We’ll keep you updated on when these changes will come into effect.

Rabbit control operation in Upper Clutha

From Monday July 19, QLDC in conjunction with Otago Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand and adjoining landowners intend to undertake a rabbit control operation. This involves a ground operation using carrot baits containing the pesticide Pindone in the following areas:

• Near the southern edge of the Clutha River by Albert Town, including Templeton Park and the Cardrona River Mouth
• North of the Albert Town Bridge (Albert Town Reserve)
• Near the Outlet (Clutha River Reserve)
• Waterfall Creek (Damper Bay Lakeside Recreation Reserve).

Information on safety precautions, maps of the operational area and status of the operation can be found here.

Are you interested in helping in an emergency?

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are interested in helping their community prepare for and respond to an emergency. This could be a flood, earthquake, landslip, wildfire, severe storm or even a global pandemic.

Volunteers will be part of a new community response group for their area. Groups will have a vital role in supporting their community during an emergency, especially in a big event when it may take some time for emergency responders to reach your community. Volunteers will be offered training and will be supported by Emergency Management Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Council. 

Register your interest here.

Wanaka Community Board and council news 

The Wanaka Community Board is always keen to meet members of the Upper Clutha community for a cup of tea and an informal chat about issues and opportunities, big or small. Pop along to our monthly drop-in session - the next one will be held on Wednesday August 4 from 12.00pm to 1.00pm, at the Wanaka Recreation Centre. 

Finally, if you’re keen on finding out more about how the Wanaka Community Board operates and what decisions it makes, come along to our next community board meeting on Thursday August 12, 10.00am to 12.00pm in the Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre.

PHOTO: Wanaka App