Work on the next stage of the multimillion-dollar upgrade of Wanaka’s lakefront is set to start early next month.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council announced construction on stage two of the Wanaka Lakefront Development Plan will start on April 11.
Stage two will see the implementation of a shared pathway on lakefront running from McDougall St to Dungarvon St, connecting Mt Aspiring Rd car park with the town centre and displaying new millennium pathway tiles alongside it.
There will be 110 new car parks and four accessible spaces added along the lake side of Ardmore St, opposite Pembroke Park and broken into sections to create view shafts and access points.
Parking on the grass lawns on the lakefront will be prohibited.
Council community services general manager Thunes Cloete said he was delighted to see stage two about to take shape and the area would be a greatly improved space for people to enjoy.
"Stage two will feature expanded and irrigated lawns, creating open space and providing new places for people to sit, enjoy a picnic, and marvel at the view without vehicles or campervans in the way," Dr Cloete said.
To enable the construction, a proposal to temporarily close Ardmore St between McDougall St and Dungarvon St will be considered by the Wanaka Community Board today.
If approved, the section of Ardmore St would be closed from April 11 through to September 30.
Dr Cloete acknowledged the temporary closure would cause some inconvenience but emphasised it would ensure the safe and efficient delivery of the project.
It would result in a significant cost saving and ensure the section of lakefront can be opened up to the community sooner, he said.
A detour for traffic would be in place via McDougall, Brownston and Dungarvon Sts.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Barry Bruce said he was excited about construction starting and the board eagerly anticipated another section of the lakefront that would prioritise pedestrians and cyclists.
Construction is estimated to be completed by the end of September.
