The Queenstown Lakes District Council appointed Christchurch environmental consulting firm Boffa Miskell to assess the urban design qualities of seven subdivisions in the district - including Lake Hayes Estate - last June.
The overall assessment of Lake Hayes Estate found it to be between "acceptable" and "less successful".
Its out-of-town location without appropriate local services was "a major urban design concern".
The Queenstown Times this week asked Lake Hayes Estate Community Association chairman Kevin Burdon how the association felt about the findings. Mr Burdon said people coming to the estate knew about the facilities available and had built their homes there because they wanted to.
"They were all aware there was no retail [shops] here when they built on their sections ... If they did not like it here, they would not have built here," One of the critique's major findings on Lake Hayes Estate was that it would be "more successful" had it been treated as a "stand-alone village" with shops and sufficient amenities to create a village centre and destination for local residents.
Mr Burdon said Lake Hayes was a great community containing lots of families, and the people living there passed shopping areas twice a day going to and from school or work.
While it had no shopping facilities, there were plans and strong community support for putting in some amenities.
"I know people would like a corner dairy or cafe and there are plans for a playcentre which has not started yet, but I understand they have consent to proceed." Other Queenstown subdivisions assessed in the study included Fernhill, Goldfields, Arthurs Point and Atley Downs.
In Wanaka, the Mt Iron and Meadowstone subdivisions were assessed.
