The public will have an opportunity to comment on the site of Wanaka's new police station in Ballantyne Rd, following a decision to apply for redesignation "for police purposes".
The New Zealand Police have long been planning the new station in Wanaka on the Queenstown Lakes District Council-owned recreation reserve and applied for resource consent in December, aiming to begin construction this month.
Submissions close on March 8 and a hearing is likely in early April.
Lakes Environmental principal planner Paula Williams said the applicant's decision to take the different approach was a "much easier" route should police wish to extend or alter the building later.
"I guess for the future, it is like a mini-rezoning of land. The designation for police purposes is much easier. The QLDC recreation reserve status still remains so there will be two designations."
Under a designation, anything in the future, say an extension, would have required a resource consent. With this [redesignation application] they would just have to do a plan for approval, Mrs Williams said.
The council approved the redesignation proposal last year.
