As debate continues to rage over the best site for the Wanaka Rowing Club's boat shed, the club held its first regatta between Stony Creek and Ruby Island on Lake Wanaka at the weekend.
The Central Otago Schools and Masters Regatta was held along the west shore of Roys Bay on the club's training course, as the Queenstown Lakes District Council continued gathering submissions on a proposed boat shed on the eastern shore, at Eely Point.
Submissions on the Eely Point site, next to the scout den, close on Wednesday.
Acknowledged lake-user conflicts exist at Eely Point, but there are already buildings there and no close residential neighbours.
Now, debate on lakeside reserve uses is about to broaden. Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks confirmed last week he had instructed council staff to begin a review of wider lakeside reserve management issues.
When the rowing club explored potential boat shed sites in 2008-09, lake-user conflicts meant Eely Point was rejected on safety grounds.
Last month, following opposition from the Stoney Creek Action Group, the club dropped its preferred Stoney Creek site and obtained Wanaka Community Board approval for Eely Point.
Wanaka Rowing Club president Dave Varney said while Stoney Creek was still the club's preferred boat shed site, "we withdrew the application from where it was going to be because of an ongoing battle with the opposing group.
"We withdrew because we need clubrooms now, not in three years' time," he said.
Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black said the Stoney Creek site was the better site.
"The priority really, in my opinion, has to be water safety ... But the club can't afford that sort of fight and probably will never win. You could spend all the money the club's got for the clubhouse towards fighting it. It is a no-win situation," he said.
The Wanaka Community Board has asked the council to approve, at its meeting tomorrow, a panel comprising Cr Leigh Overton and Wanaka Community Board members Ken Copland and Dick Kane, to consider submissions and conduct a hearing.
