Draft Wānaka Town Masterplan proposals Big Move one and Big Move three, which suggest connecting Pembroke Park to Lake Wānaka, have provoked some opposition since being released for community feedback between June 10 and 28 this year.

The 10.506 hectare recreational reserve is currently bounded by Dungarvon, Ardmore, Brownston and McDougall Street. 

Within the document Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) clarified that “the proposal would result in no overall loss in park area and would be implemented via a land swap with parking moved to the southern side of the park”.

Specifically regarding the Pembroke Park changes, QLDC stated that 10 percent of respondents supported and 10 percent opposed the proposed changes. 

Pembroke Park was designated a recreation reserve in 1971 and the proposal would require a change to the park’s reserve management plan. 

To ascertain how The Friends of Pembroke Park feel about this proposal—which became registered as an Incorporated Society in 1996—the Wānaka Sun spoke to three of its members, John and Jill Belennerhassett and Lois King. 

King, who is also a Browston Street resident, vehemently opposed any changes to the boundaries of the Pembroke Park reserve.

“There have been people fighting all these years to keep [Pembroke Park] protected,” said King. “The boundaries, as far as I’m concerned, are set. That’s how it’s been and that’s why it’s still the same. [,,,] [Pembroke Park] is still here today after 48 years, and multiple times it has been targeted, but look at it.”

“Pembroke Park is a jewel. It must not be encroached upon except for things like the skate park and so on,” said John. “Yes, the safety of our youngsters, lovely, absolutely behind it from the start to finish. [...] But somebody’s club rooms, so they can have a boozy evening, no way.” 

John also expressed appreciation for the “splendid job” QLDC have done making the park what it is today, adding that “they’ve chosen the right people, they’ve consulted with us, it has been wonderful.”

“Any further work on the land swap proposal for Pembroke Park will be put on hold until the Network Optimisation Single Stage business case is complete. This business case will provide the detailed evidence required to make changes to the transport network to provide more walking and cycling opportunities, achieve ideal traffic flows on Brownston Street, SH84 and further explore the need for and potential location of a town centre bypass.  It will also include a parking management strategy and identification of low cost, low risk projects to be implemented while the detailed investigations are underway,” said QLDC media and channels advisor Jack Barlow. “Any further town centre upgrades identified in the Wānaka Masterplan or wider transport network improvements would be reviewed once the business case is complete and council officers will report back to the community board before any further progress is made.”