Wanaka ratepayers are facing a $21.5 million question: should proposed new sports facilities include a swimming pool and where should the facilities go?
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is recommending the Wanaka community build a sports facilities building, swimming pool and playing fields on one of three proposed sites, with completion by 2016.
Queenstown Lakes District Council finance manager Stewart Burns said yesterday there could be savings on the total estimated costs for the two projects if they were together on one site.
The total indicative impact on rates for both, if they were stand-alone projects, would add up to a $150 increase per year for each Wanaka ratepayer, Mr Burns said.
"We have done some preliminary costs and you have got to understand there is no detailed designs so anything we do is relatively indicative. Until we have the site and concept drawings, it is difficult to estimate . . .
"We have also assumed the two projects will be funded with contributions from existing Wanaka land sale proceeds to the tune of $5 million, and that we are also successful in getting community grants for both facilities," Mr Burns said.
It was hoped community grants could meet 15% of capital costs, or at least $3.2 million over the two projects.
On the basis the land sale proceeds and community grants were available, the ratepayer portion would be about $4.7 million, Mr Burns said.
Preliminary estimates provided by the Wanaka Aquatic Centre Working Party show a stand-alone pool could cost $11.5 million, with ratepayers facing a $110 increase a year.
Separate estimates by the Wanaka Sports Facilities Working Party for a main indoor stadium comprising indoor courts, change facilities, clubroom, plus outdoor hard court surfaces, could cost $10 million to build, with a $40 impact on rates, Mr Burns said.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks said he wanted a clear signal from the public on what increase was reasonable.
"It is a significant amount to pay for ratepayers. We really, desperately need some comment from people on what they think about this. It is not just the people who play sport or swim. It is all ratepayers," Mr Cocks said.
The council's recommendation is the pool and stadium be built as one project on one of three site options: Kelly's Flat (for a stand alone pool), the Wanaka Showgrounds/ Lakeview Holiday Park or a "greenfields" site near Ballantyne Rd (both for sports facilities with or without a pool).
Wanaka residents can have a say at a public drop-in meeting at the Lake Wanaka Centre from 3pm-7pm on Wednesday February 11.
Further public comment will be allowed before the final plan and budgets are released in June.
Various reports have been posted on the QLDC website and a transportation study is still being completed.
Meanwhile, QLDC project manager Roger Taylor's report on the holiday park finds there is no compelling economic or social case to retain it in the centre of town and recommends if the QLDC is to invest in any of Wanaka's camping grounds, the priority should be at Glendhu Bay.
