Course through Wanaka stays

Triathlon New Zealand gets to keep its original course through the centre of Wanaka for its national bike race on January 15, despite opposition from shop owners.

But the organisation has agreed to site modifications and better marshalling of the Friday night event, agreed to by the Wanaka Community Board yesterday.

Some business owners were annoyed road closures during the weekend, and particularly Friday afternoon, meant the town would be shut off to the general public.

But board members agreed with Triathlon New Zealand that taking the event away from the centre of town to Pembroke Park would be more detrimental to businesses.

Victoria Murray-Orr presented to the board, on behalf of Triathlon New Zealand, modifications to the original course, and better signs for the road closures, along with more road marshalling.

The alternative route was a compromise but "far from ideal", taking away the atmosphere and the spectators from the central business district, she said.

Deputy mayor John Wilson said the chamber of commerce supported the event in its original form, and he suspected moving it away from the town centre would just attract new objectors.

The board supported an amended course plan over an alternative race site away from the town centre.

Town centre plansPlans for a more highly functional town centre for Wanaka are one step closer after the town's community board approved the working party's strategy yesterday.

Eight project areas have been identified including better connection of the lakefront with the central business area, a new pier, civic centre, and village green.

The working party has spent the past 18 months putting together options in the comprehensive strategy, and conducting open days for the public to have their say.

Community board chairman Lyal Cocks said at the meeting he was concerned the strategy was "closing the door" on other options before the more detailed technical analysis. But Mr Wilson said he didn't think they could afford to do full scoping of all the options.

He said unlike the past few failed attempts in the 1980s and 1990s to enhance the town centre, "it is important we start putting ticks in boxes." The strategy committee will adopt the plan in October.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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