Boost for Roys Bay water feature

(Front, from left) John Herbert of Stonewood Homes, Jude Battson of Wanaka Springs Trust, Laurel Morrison of Wanakafest and Tony Brown of Willowridge Developments Ltd. (Behind, from left) are representatives of the various bodies supporting the concept: Steve Hart, Ed Taylor, Sharon Oxley, Brent Harridge, Janice Hughes, Alastair McLean, Neal Kaler and Angela Bell. Photo by Marjorie Cook.

The springs trust is raising $50,000 through various community trusts and agencies.

The festival trust has confirmed contributions in money and labour to the value of about $22,000, springs trust representative Jude Battson said yesterday.

Wanakafest Trust chairwoman Janice Hughes said yesterday the springs feature was chosen from several submissions received last year.

"It fitted the criteria we set at the beginning, that it was to be a community asset and enduring for a long period of time," she said.

Wanakafest trustee Brent Harridge said the proposal had been "stuck" for a long time.

"It seemed like the perfect scenario for us to come in and help pull it up the hill," he said.

The festival trust raised at least $70,000 last year through the Stonewood Homes Home Build project and would apply some of that to the springs feature and the balance to future Wanakafests.

There was "more than sufficient" to do both, Mrs Hughes said.

Ms Battson was excited to receive the support and confident the full $50,000 could be raised.

The Wanaka Community Board, of which she is a member, approved the springs feature in in 2007.

"It is really awesome that Wanakafest has responded to a request from the trust to give it the impetus," Ms Battson said.

The springs trust was launched several years ago by Richard Windelove, who no longer lives in Wanaka but remains passionate about the area.

Both trusts confirmed the feature would not look exactly like an artist's impression on an information sign to be erected at the site.

The landscaping includes a seating area.

Sculpture may also be included.

The area will use natural spring water from the Cardrona aquifer, which emerges at several points along the Lakeside Rd escarpment.

Building on the escarpment has resulted in springs being piped under the road to the lake and a conduit is already in place to supply the water feature.

An earlier suggestion to build a drinking fountain has been rejected because the Queenstown Lakes District Council would be obliged to treat the springs, against community wishes.

Ms Battson said final drawings would be signed off by the council's community services manager Paul Wilson.

She hoped work could start before the end of the year.