If Wānaka residents feel as though construction on the lakeside end of Aubrey Road has dragged on - that’s because it has.

The project to replace and upgrade existing pipes that connect the public water system to homes on Aubrey Road near the lakeside began early last year, and was scheduled to be completed by this Easter.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) spokesperson Sam White told the Wānaka App the original scope of wastewater upgrades was “broadened to encompass additional stormwater upgrades at the same time to minimise disruption and cost”.

“... but this has resulted in a longer construction period,” he said.

Concurrent diversions to allow for a signalised crossing by Holy Family school have complicated traffic management in the area.

The stormwater project is expected to be completed in May when traffic restrictions will end, Sam said.

While he thanked residents and drivers for “their ongoing patience”, comments about the work on social media suggested many people’s patience had run out.

This post on a local Facebook page generated complaints about the length of time the work has taken, the resulting traffic delays, and messiness of the area.

Concerns raised included extra traffic through Anderson Rd “making for huge traffic queues at certain times of the day”, and frustrations around accessing Wānaka Primary School (WPS). 

QLDC deputy mayor Quentin Smith responded to the concerns, saying: “We share your frustration and have raised it to understand why it is so untidy. The reinstatement works are clearly sub par also. We are asking the same questions.”

Quentin explained that additional work to upgrade a stormwater main on Aubrey Road was complicated when an existing water main “clashed” with parts of the stormwater upgrade and had to be upgraded first.

“The wastewater main and the water main are complete, and the contractor is now starting on the stormwater upgrade,” he said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App