A "unique opportunity" to implement an amenity plan at the Shotover Delta had led the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Otago Regional Council to forge a partnership which should reap benefits for the community, Queenstown Mayor Clive Geddes said yesterday.
He expected it to result in a "vastly improved public area with walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, improved fishing access and revegetation".
Mr Geddes said the councils recognised there were savings and benefits from an integrated approach.
Consequently, a Shotover Delta Steering Group, with membership from both councils, had been working on issues relating to the Queenstown Airport runway end safety area, the Shotover River management and Project Shotover, the proposed disposal of wastewater to land scheme.
Regional council chairman Stephen Cairns said it also made "absolute sense" for the councils to work with the Queenstown Airport Corporation and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The Wakatipu Transportation Strategy 2007 flagged an alternative Frankton bypass through the delta area and, although the bypass project was long-term, it had been captured in the delta planning.
Mr Geddes said the projects meant a special chance to implement an overall amenity plan.
The projects are at varying stages in the approval, consent and funding process.
The Queenstown Airport Resa is before planning commissioners, while Project Shotover consents were notified earlier this month.
Mr Cairns said the river management project was about minimising the likelihood of the Shotover River constricting the outflow from Lake Wakatipu during floods.
The ORC project, which was subject to approval, funding and consents, included willow clearance, gravel management and removal and construction of landscaped buffers to guide the river to the true left side of the delta.
"Achieving each project will be a milestone in itself, so the added bonus of retention of public access and the enhancement of recreation amenity is a real bonus for the community," Mr Cairns said.
