Capacity and environmental benefits part of wastewater upgrades in Queenstown

Upgrades to Queenstown’s wastewater and water supply infrastructure along Robins Road are set to begin this month, which will lead to additional capacity for the network and help to protect Horne Creek and the surrounding environment.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Property & Infrastructure, Tony Avery said the planned upgrade was a continuation of Council’s commitment to improving local infrastructure around the district, while providing for future housing in the area.

“Currently, wastewater from properties in Arthurs Point and parts of Queenstown is taken down Robins Road in an aging pipeline that has limited capacity, runs underneath several private properties, and is located close to Horne Creek,” said Mr Avery.

The solution will see construction of a new wastewater pipeline underneath Robins Road, starting at the Horne Creek bridge and heading south before connecting in with existing infrastructure at Queenstown Recreation Ground opposite Queenstown Primary School.

“This new pipeline will improve the reliability of our network, provide more capacity for connections over the next 30 years, and its new location will reduce the risk of severe weather leading to overflows that may enter private properties, or Horne Creek and Lake Whakatipu,” said Mr Avery.

The first stage of work begins on Monday 10 November and will involve crews installing a new watermain on the eastern side of Robins Road, requiring a temporary closure to a section of footpath.

Then in early January 2026, Robins Road is expected to be closed to both lanes of traffic between Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel and Hamilton Road for excavations and the installation of sections of the new wastewater pipeline.

My Avery acknowledged residents and businesses in the area, along with commuters, parents, and Queenstown Primary School would be impacted by the works, but added affected parties were being engaged with to work through any concerns.

“The closure to part of Robins Road in January will cause disruption, and there will be additional noise around the work site, vibrations, and heavy machinery movements in the area too,” said Mr Avery.

“However, by upgrading water supply infrastructure as part of this project to deliver a new wastewater pipeline on Robins Road, we can avoid any future disruption by carrying out these improvements as part of the same project, instead of returning in future to dig everything up again.”

Work on the upgrades is expected to be completed by late May 2026.

The contract was awarded to HEB Construction.

ENDS | KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | KĀ PĀROKO TĀPIRI:

Robins Road Wastewater Upgrades: www.qldc.govt.nz/robins-road-ww

Map of Robins Road Wastewater Upgrades: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/1hqcpiem/qldc_robins-road-wastewater-upgrades_a4-info_nov25.pdf

Map of early November worksite and footpath closure: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/koub1u5c/qldc_robins-road-wastewater-upgrades_social-800x800px_nov25_stage-1.jpg

Map of early January worksite and Robins Road closure: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/jxdjaboj/qldc_robins-road-wastewater-upgrades_social-800x800px_nov25_stage-2.jpg