Queenstown Town Centre Street Upgrades

Key features include: 

• Lower Beach Street will be transformed into a shared space that enhances its existing retail, event and social function. 

• Upper Beach Street will remain pedestrian only however existing vehicle access (and via Cow Lane) will be maintained for deliveries and servicing of local business

• New paving that embeds  design elements to share local stories and history

• New bespoke lighting and street furniture that links to mana whenua value of 'Oraka' meaning rest and recuperation.  

• A combination of new and existing street trees  and plants

• New wayfinding signage

Beach Street will be complete by 23 December 2022, with the exception of some seating which will be installed in the new year. 

Lower Beach Street will reopen to traffic before Christmas and will operate quite differently.  It will become a low speed, high-quality shared zone, prioritising access for walking and cycling. Access to lower Beach Street will be via Cow Lane until Rees Street reopens, around Easter 2023.

• Beach Street Christmas 2022 Access Map (PDF, 507KB)

General parking will be removed from this area but you’ll still be able to drop off goods and passengers at any time. Mobility permit holders will be able to park for up to 60 minutes.

CCTV cameras will be operating. 

Upper and Lower Beach Street is closed while construction is underway.

Access for pedestrians will be maintained throughout the project. 

The work will be noisy at times.  

We're incredibly grateful for the support and patience shown by Beach Street businesses over this time. We will continue to work closely with you all to minimise and help you through this disruptive period.  

Key features include: 

• A 4m wide shared path connecting the town centre to the lakefront at Park Street

• New street lighting and  furniture 

• New paving, new stone kerbs, stone setts at pedestrian crossings and exposed aggregate concrete footpaths.

• New  wayfinding signage

The Park Street upgrade is complete. 

Following a decision of the full Council on 16 December 2021, construction of the preferred option for a dedicated cycle path along Hotops Rise will not go ahead.

Staff have been instructed to complete a detailed feasibility study of alternative route 2, as detailed in the options assessment report below. Staff will report back to Council in the near future.

The Brecon Street upgrade will provide new underground services and a generous footpath to provide a safe and welcoming experience for the thousands of people who visit that part of the town centre each year.   Key features will include: 

• A continuous 4-5m wide footpath   along the northern side of the street 

• An improved 4m wide footpath on the southern side to interface with new hotel developments and Lakeview

• New and existing street trees and plants.  

• Rationalising carparking on the southern side of the street

• Improvements near the Skyline building to prioritise pedestrian access and make pick-up / drop-off safer.  

• Lower Brecon Street to become a low speed, shared space prioritising walking and cycling. 

• New streetlighting and furniture to encourage social gathering.

• Improvements to the Brian Smith Reserve 

• Signalised intersection at Man / Brecon street

• New  wayfinding signage

Lower Brecon Street (between Shotover Street and the steps)

Paving and street lights will be complete on Lower Brecon Street by 23 December.   

Upper Brecon Street (between Man Street and the Gondola)

Good progress is being made to upgrade upper Brecon Street. There is now consistent, wide, safe pedestrian access, providing good access to all businesses in the top half of the street.

The next stage of work involves upgrading the intersections of Brecon Street with Isle Street and Cemetery Road. This is a tricky part of the project as we need to take extra care working around the protected Wellingtonia tree.   

To get the work done as quickly and safely as possible, the intersections of Brecon Street with Isle Street and Cemetery Road will be closed. This closure will be in place from 3 August until April next year, although full access will remain for walking and cycling.  

Please note that over this time, access to Queenstown Cemetery will be via Hay Street. If you’re visiting a loved one at the cemetery, please follow the detour signage in place.  

Work will stop on site between 24 December 2022 and 22 January 2023.

During the upgrade, Brecon Street will be closed to through traffic with access only available for pedestrians, business drop off and pick up and mobility parking.  This work is expected to take around one year to complete.    

While there is some disruption to Lower Brecon Street, pedestrian and vehicle access is currently maintained.

Key features include: 

• Upgrade to a shared, low speed environment that prioritises walking and cycling

• New paving that embeds design elements to share local stories and history

• New lighting and street furniture that links to mana whenua value of 'Oraka' meaning rest and recuperation.

• A combination of new and existing street trees  and plants

• New wayfinding signage

The Rees Street upgrade is progressing well.  Installation of underground services is now complete. All concrete pours, garden beds and street lights will be complete by 23 December 2022 with final paving and street furniture to be completed by Easter 2023.

Rees Street will remain closed to traffic over the Christmas break, although work will stop onsite will stop between 24 December and 22 January.

Rees Street will be closed to traffic from Monday 7 March.

If you're someone who makes deliveries on Rees Street, your new spot for dropping off goods is Marine Parade – accessed via Earl Street. A traffic controller will be on-site to assist you where need be.

Access to businesses and for pedestrians will remain in place throughout the works.