The Queenstown Lakes District Council has been criticised for not releasing information relating to the Wanaka camping ground review and proposed aquatic centre, for consideration at the same time as the proposed Wanaka sports hub.
Submissions on the sports hub close next Friday, but a council report on the fate of Wanaka's central camping ground is not likely until next month.
The camping ground forms part of the preferred site for the sports hub and under one proposal submitted to the council, it could be closed to make way for an indoor sports stadium, swimming pool and car parks.
Queenstown Lakes District Council deputy chief executive Stewart Burns said, when contacted yesterday, the camping ground report would definitely not be on the Wanaka Community Board agenda next week but the aquatic centre report would be.
"It is unfortunate not all the information is available. But we need some agreement on broad scenarios. A decision [on the sports hub] won't be made until all the information is available," Mr Burns said.
Wanaka resident Megan Williams said during a recent public drop-in session on the sports hub she thought it was "unfair of the council to expect the community to make a decision without all the information".
Ms Williams does not agree with closing the camp because that would mean poor people would not be able to holiday in central Wanaka and it would force visiting sports teams into higher-priced visitor accommodation.
"Why haven't they released the [camping ground] plans at the same time?" Ms Williams asked deputy mayor John S. Wilson at the meeting.
The council previously released a report on the camping ground after a review of district camps in 2005.
At that time, it was recommended the QLDC take back the Wanaka camp lease in 2010 and spend about $5 million on an upgrade.
But after the sports hub proposal emerged, the council decided to review its 2005 recommendation regarding the Wanaka camp.
One issue being explored is whether the camp can continue on a smaller footprint.
Cr Wilson agreed having the camp report would have been helpful earlier but the community could still debate the merits of a sports hub without it.
"What is the best we can offer our community? [Should we be providing] for the people who pay rates and use facilities, or is it for visitors here for two weeks a year to enjoy the experience?" Cr Wilson said.
