That is the view of Wanaka Community Board member Rachel Brown, who has just stepped down as chairwoman.
Ms Brown told the Otago Daily Times feedback she got from Queenstown-based council staff was that "a lot of them would like to spend more time over here.
"They don't think the Upper Clutha is a waste of time but it always has been and always will be probably busier in Queenstown than it is in Wanaka and it's always a challenge to find the time and space for Upper Clutha projects.
"Many staff will come over here for a day and say: `I wish I could come over here more often'.
"They love the pace and the passion of the people and the projects here."
Ms Brown says the absence of Wanaka-based council staff meant the board, rather than staff, took responsibility for decision-making over such things as footpaths and minor roadworks.
"Quite a few decisions are delegated to staff in Queenstown and delegated to the community board in Wanaka specifically because we understand the community's needs and wishes, whereas the staff don't, because they are not here.
"You have to be here to understand some of the background, the history, the reasons why this may or may not be appropriate."
Ms Brown said Wanaka once had a ward manager and a resident roading engineer but now, apart from a parks and reserves officer, "we really don't have a lot of staff".
"I do think that is a loss.
"There's always that tension in these things, between centralisation and decentralisation.
"I really personally believe in localised decision-making, localised government and in my ideal world yes you would have some localised dedicated staff and managers."
Ms Brown said there was value in having a community board in Wanaka to advocate for Upper Clutha.
Whether Queenstown-based council members and staff were conscious of it or not, "your focus is there", she said.
"That's what you understand.
"It's very, very busy and I do think we need an advocacy group for Wanaka.
"The closer to the people that you can make the decision the more buy-in you are going to get on that decision."
The council has 54 staff based in Wanaka and 397 in Queenstown.
Senior communications adviser Rebecca Pitts said it had been "steadily increasing the numbers of staff based in Wanaka" as activity increased.
"And we have made better provision for remote working (i.e. Skype and other technology) meaning staff and elected members on either side of the hill can be well connected."
Ms Brown has been chairwoman of the board for more than four years and said she "wasn't really enjoying this term as much as last term".
"It seemed to be taking a lot of time and energy, just doing the chairing bit - the steering and the organising.
Being chairwoman "took up ... basically every spare moment of my life. I could never do enough."
As a board member, Ms Brown hoped to be able to put more time into representing communities of the Upper Clutha.
"You actually paddle harder when you don't have to steer at the same time. It's a fact.
"I've done a lot of waka and kayak paddling and I know that."
