Two workshops were held in Cromwell on Sunday (April 16) to consider what amenities there should be on the lake edge and foreshore from the Junction to Butcher Drive.

Participants were invited to add their amenity ideas for the lakefront on overhead photos, plotting what should go where and what area should be used for which particular activity.

The amenities included pontoons, swimming areas, playgrounds, performance areas, walking and cycle trails, sites for museum interpretation panels and market stalls. 

The workshops were facilitated by Queenstown company Shaping Our Future (SOF). 

Executive officer John Glover said SOF heard about many things people wanted and had many ideas shared at the workshops.

Groups used overhead maps to plan the lakefront.

“Once we have all the ideas and start putting together the plan, having a plan is all important when it comes to fund-raising and getting buy-in from everyone. You can go to an organisation and say this is what we want to do; here is the plan.”   

“The people in Cromwell are best to make the plan because they understand the area and know what will and won’t work.” 

Many of the participants were of retirement age; when asked if this presented a problem, John said SOF was conscious they would miss sections of the community at workshops, but those groups would be consulted through different methods.

“The 18 to 30s are always the hardest to engage with; they're busy living life. 

“But we will use Instagram and other social media to reach the demographics that can’t find or make the time to come to a workshop.” 

Contact Energy funded the workshops and will also support the production of the final plan for the waterfront after the consultation process has concluded. 

PHOTOS: The Central App