It is critical that QEC and WRC remain the central hubs, with satellite sites supporting district-wide needs. The overall aim of the masterplan is to build on the considerable success of both QEC and WRC and to realise their potential through a cohesive long-term plan that can be implemented in stages.

The masterplan considers QEC and WRC within their context and their relationships and linkages to surrounding communities and natural environments. Both contexts are changing rapidly and the masterplan team have coordinated where possible with adjacent property owners and design teams to ensure development on each is complimentary.

Proposed layouts were developed for both sites, driven by the overarching vision of “more people, more active, more often’ and more connected”. This relies on the community feeling a connection to the place and having multiple reasons to participate in the site, whether it be as part of their daily journey, for community functions, social interaction, events, recreation or organised sport.

In considering future facilities to meet sporting and active recreation needs, it is essential that we learn from the past and ensure that future facilities are developed in a robust and planned way. Sport NZ’s National Sport Facilities Framework identifies a set of planning principles to improve future decision-making when investing in facilities. They are:

• Sustainability: Consideration of life costs
• Co-location and integration
• Future-proofing / adaptability
• Accessibility
• Partnering / collaboration and coordination
  

Development of the masterplan has been informed by engagement with QLDC staff, events professionals, user groups and the Wānaka Community Board. Recreation Aotearoa have undertaken a peer review of the initial draft masterplan.