Frustration with Luggate’s inadequate water supply was voiced at the recent Luggate Community Association (LCA) AGM and while the council is keen to assure Luggate’s residents their existing water infrastructure is sufficient, the promised water upgrade hasn’t yet been approved.

Like most Upper Clutha communities, Luggate residents have been asked to conserve water over the peak summer weeks as high demand places a strain on its bore water system.

LCA chair Rod Anderson said locals were doing their bit but there were concerns that council’s planned upgrade to Luggate’s water supply still had no approved budget or start date.

“When the system was originally installed, we had no restrictions, and when developments began, we were assured that there would be a new water source in place. But that did not happen, and those new development houses were allowed to join the existing water supply,” he  said.

Queenstown Lakes District Council media officer Sam White told Wānaka App the council has already spent $2.8M since 2018 on Luggate’s water supply.

The new Luggate water supply bore head, off Cooper Crescent, became operational mid-2019.

This investment included construction of a replacement bore-head near Cooper Crescent and the installation of a new water main between Luggate and the airport which will connect to the future reservoirs. 

And further investment was planned with a new scheme designed to cater not only for current needs but also future residential developments, such as Lake McKay, Sam said. 

The new scheme, which includes three 1,000m3 reservoirs to be constructed in stages on land between Luggate and the Wānaka Airport, was in the final stages of detailed design, he said.

“We’re well advanced in securing the land and other permissions required to implement it.

“This will ultimately provide a ten-fold increase in Luggate’s existing capacity and future-proof the scheme for at least 50 years based on current growth projections,” Sam said.

He acknowledged the budget for the scheme and the timing for its implementation was unconfirmed but said it would be discussed in the council’s upcoming annual plan and 10-year plan considerations.

“Obviously we’re not in a position to rule out water restrictions for any part of the district in years to come but we are planning for the future,” he said.

Sam said council was working with all the communities to conserve water. 

“Like many areas, Luggate’s usage shows significant seasonal demand for outdoor irrigation over the summer months.”

But if the “annual spike” could be reduced Luggate’s existing water infrastructure would be “sufficient to support the township’s projected growth until the new scheme comes online without localised restrictions”, he said.