Wanaka's town centre may be given a makeover to include a town square, a civic area, a parking building, improved pedestrian walkways and rationalisation of its extensive lakefront parking areas if a draft strategy is implemented.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council strategy committee heard yesterday the draft wanaka town centre strategy aimed to create a "relaxed, yet vibrant" town centre.
Working party chairman Charlie Grant and council senior policy analyst Sue Mavor said the working party was established last May.
Mr Grant said eight project areas had been identified: traffic management for, and design of, the lakefront area; pedestrian connections across, to and from the town centre; the area where civic activities were to be located; car parking throughout the town centre; transport - including cycling and walking - throughout the town centre; the character of the area; the need for a "town square" and open spaces; and the commercial capacity of the area.
The recommended redesigning of the lake front would see parking rationalised, a promenade provided along the lakefront for pedestrians and cyclists and a new pier aligned with Helwick St.
There would also be improvements to Bullock Creek near its mouth, and the replacement of low shrubs along the road with ground cover and trees.
Bus parking would be relocated and the intersection and pedestrian crossing at Ardmore St-Lakeside Dr would be redesigned.
Also, the i-Site would be adapted, resited and rebuilt, Mr Grant said.
There would also be amenity improvements along the lakefront up to the marina, including "possible reclamation between the marina and Bullock Creek".
Projects seen as "higher priority" were roading changes, the lakefront, car and cycle parking, pedestrian networks, a civic area and town square.
The draft strategy was approved for consultation next month, subject to comment.
