Submissions on how the district plan deals with noise in the CBD and how it might be amended closed last Friday, and attracted a wide variety of views on the issue.
Among the processed submissions made available to the Queenstown Times were those from the Wakatipu Anglican Parish, and Snowbiz rentals manager Euan Paterson.
On behalf of the Wakatipu Anglican Vestry, the Rt Rev Dr David Coles wrote that there should be stricter noise control to allow St Peter's church to continue existing as a "quiet refuge" close to the town centre.
"It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a wedding or a funeral at St Peter's church while there was loud music coming from a nearby bar or cafe," he said.
"We ask the QLDC to consider creating a quiet zone in and around Church St and Earl St and the Queenstown Gardens area."
Mr Paterson submitted that the noise issue was "unquestionably" related to liquor licensing laws and the mismanagement of "a few" licensed premises in town.
"The business of such establishments is at the core of the noise pollution they produce. For example, their financial survival is entirely dependent upon attracting the young backpacker tourist market, purveying them with excessive amounts of alcohol at vastly reduced prices, then turning them out on to the street - to yell and scream at the top of their voices, fight, and vandalise property."
There was little point introducing more rules until current noise control and liquor licensing legislation was enforced, he said.
However, the majority of submitters were in favour of exploring an increase in the CBD noise limit, and requiring new, noise-sensitive activities in the town centre to sound-insulate.
Nomads Backpackers said the town should cater for all types of uses, operating as a "free-market enterprise", with no limitations on new noise sensitive activities.
Fergus Spary, of Global Publications, said all commercial enterprises and the vibrancy that comes with them should be welcomed, but he did not believe that people coming to stay in down-town Queenstown were there for the "peace and tranquillity".
"The town centre is where people come for shopping, dining and entertainment and to feel the buzz of a vibrant and exciting tourist hot-spot and it is, therefore, important to cater for these," he said.
"There is a huge amount of zoning in the district for residential use and very little for commercial use in comparison, so it's only right the focus should be on commercial use."
BackstageNZ founder Kevin Jennings summarised these views succinctly.
"If you choose to live downtown, expect noise. CBD, not CRD [Central Rural District]."
Ngai Tahu Property said the town centre zone should anticipate the establishment of commercial as opposed to noise-sensitive activities.
"This is primarily due to the greater restriction of commercial activities establishing in zones beyond the town centre," Ngai Tahu consultant planner John Scheele wrote.
The submission also suggested identification of "noise precincts" to accommodate activities such as bars and night clubs, and review and amendment of ambient noise levels and expected noise levels from future activities.
Council senior policy analyst Ralph Henderson said "all the usual suspects" were present among the submissions, including many hospitality providers.
"That's a good number, 82, so I'm pretty sure we're going to have a good range of views represented there."
He said the next step was to produce a summary of the feedback to present to the town centre noise working party, which would then be taken as an item to the QDLC Strategy Committee.
