Rachel BrownThe Queenstown Lakes District Council should have more staff based in Wanaka and Upper Clutha. 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. 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. The council has 54 staff based in Wanaka and 397 in Queenstown.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 26, 2018 17:03 UTC