Otago Fish & Game has congratulated anglers across the region for their exceptional compliance with fishing regulations during the summer season.Despite a notable decrease in angler numbers on the lakes and rivers, compliance has been at a stand-out level, with only two offences recorded in the region.Fish & Game officers have been actively patrolling popular fishing spots across the region, with more than 200 anglers checked.The two offences recorded were one instance of fishing without a licence and another involving an angler trolling with two rods — an offence that remains the second most common after fishing without a licence.“It’s great to see the compliance so good,” Fish & Game officer Ben Sowry said. “In a usual year, it would be common to pick up a couple of offences every day, but this year people have been behaving.”While weather conditions were less than ideal, with plenty of windy and rainy days discouraging anglers, the cooler weather has also had its advantages.“Catches have been pretty good with the slightly cooler weather helping to keep the trout and salmon feeding in shallower water,” Ben said.“The weather over the holiday period in the lakes area hasn’t been the classic Kiwi summer.“But those who did get out on the water have not only followed the rules but also enjoyed some rewarding fishing.”Anglers are reminded to review the fishing regulations at the start of each season to stay informed about any changes and refresh their knowledge of the rules.“By purchasing a licence and following the regulations, anglers are directly supporting efforts to conserve and restore local fish habitats, ensuring sustainable populations for future generations of anglers,” Ben said.Find more information on Otago Fish & Game regulations here.PHOTO: Ian Hadland, Otago Fish & Game

Registrations are now open for Wānaka’s popular Autumn Art School, which will take place in April (22-26).The once-a-year art school gives people the opportunity to step away from their everyday lives for a week and deep dive into learning or fine-tuning a skill or interest, with help from experienced tutors. The classes offered this year range from videography to watercolour portraits, to travel photography, contemporary painting and drama.There’s also brush making, creative felting and pounamu carving, among others.“There is a range of classes listed and we look forward to a creative week,” a statement from the Wānaka Autumn Art School said. “This is a great opportunity to step off the world to learn new skills and create something unique.”“Beginners and experienced students [are] welcome. There are many opportunities to meet new friends, socialise as well as learn about the different tutors.”Classes often sell out quickly and potential students are encouraged to book quickly.The Wānaka Autumn Art School is a non-profit event run by the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council.Surplus funds provide scholarships for young and needy artists and the betterment of the arts in the Upper Clutha Community.Find the full Wānaka Autumn Art School programme here.PHOTO: Supplied

Today's power outages. Tuesday January 14, 8am till 5pm - Alpha Close, Coromandel Street, Stone Street and Hollywood Rise, Niger Street, Stone Street and Faulks Terrace.Upcoming outages.Tuesday January 21, 8.30am till 4.30pm - Elizabeth Street, Noema TerraceTo keep up to date with power outages click here.

Luggate’s updated drinking water scheme is now expected to be operational by the end of the year.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will invest in two new supply bores, access to a new water source, and a new ultraviolet (UV) treatment plant for the township.89971Luggate had initially been set for supply upgrades in 2028.However, it made sense to accelerate delivery of the new infrastructure as part of works to introduce a protozoa barrier (UV disinfection) for the township this year, QLDC acting general manager property and infrastructure Simon Mason said.“The new treatment plant will ensure drinking water in Luggate remains safe and achieves compliance, and the new bores mean we can provide enough water to meet the needs of this growing community,” Simon said.“The project also includes development of a new long-term reservoir site which will eventually include significantly increased storage capacity as part of future investment in the area.”A tender for the work is on track to go out to market in early 2025, and physical works are anticipated to begin in the middle of the year.The estimated cost of these works is $6.3M.QLDC first signalled it had identified another solution to Luggate water treatment issues in October last year.Mayor Glyn Lewers congratulated staff on finding a solution that was both faster and cheaper than the one initially anticipated.See also: Early delivery of Luggate water treatment.More information on the project and what to expect during construction will be shared once a contractor is selected and its delivery programme developed, Simon said.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has begun a procurement process for consultants to undertake community consultation on the future of Wānaka Airport.The council signalled last year it would begin to work on a long-term planning process for Wānaka Airport in this financial year (2024-2025), which would “form the basis of a future masterplan”. Funding for a future review for the airport was included in the Long Term Plan (LTP) adopted by councillors in September.QLDC says key questions to consider during the review include: the community and stakeholder vision for Wānaka Airport; how to ensure community engagement is effective; and potential scenarios for the airport and its future management.In October, representatives of the Wānaka Airport Users Group, Wānaka Stakeholders Group Inc (WSG), Wao Aotearoa, Albert Town Community Association, Cardrona Ratepayers and Residents Society, Hāwea Community Association, Luggate Community Association, and Mt Barker & District Residents' Association met with the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) to outline six ‘key principles’ they want to guide the planning process.The groups asked that the master planning process be independent, transparent, and locally accountable.Read more: Community groups call for ‘transparent’ airport planningA skydiver’s view of Wānaka Airport.A QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App the procurement process now underway will seek “the independent delivery” of the Wānaka Airport Future Review.“The intended response being sought includes a mix of aeronautical, social, economic, legal and consultation/strategic communication expertise.”He said the process would involve extensive engagement with key stakeholders, the Wānaka-Upper Clutha community and wider Queenstown Lakes District.QLDC said details for the review and subsequent community engagement will be shared after a consultant has been appointed and a timeline agreed, which was expected by February 2025. Wānaka Airport is owned by QLDC and Queenstown Airport Corporation manages Wānaka Airport’s day-to-day operations on behalf of QLDC under a management services agreement.These management services include noise monitoring, property management, regulatory planning and compliance, and liaising with the airport community on day-to-day matters.PHOTOS: Supplied

Locals can learn about the benefits of ‘electrifying’ their home at a talk next week.Electrifying a home means replacing current uses fueled by natural gas, propane, gasoline, or fuel oil with electric appliances. While lights, dishwashers and ovens may be electric, there are still many households which use gas for water heating, space heating, plus petrol and diesel for driving.New community group Electrify Wānaka will be speaking at the Wānaka Library this Saturday (January 18) about the benefits of switching to electric.Group secretary Pierre Marasti said he went ‘fully electric’ six years ago. “Our household has one electric vehicle, electric hot water, electric heating and rooftop solar plus a battery system. While there are upfront costs attached, we are now in a situation where our energy is free,” Pierre said. “I want to share our experience so the whole community can reap the benefits of electrification: a better economy, better health and a better environment. That’s why we started Electrify Wānaka.” Electrify Wānaka is supporting the work of Rewiring Aotearoa, a NZ-non profit, which aims to help more Kiwis ‘go electric’.Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey said the Southern Lakes has one of the highest per capita rates of electric vehicles and rooftop solar installation in the country.However, it is a small percentage overall “so we need to rapidly increase those adoption rates”.This Saturday’s talk will take place at 11am. Contact Wānaka Library to book a spot.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The supreme award at the Craigs Investment Partners Aspiring Art Prize 2024 in Wānaka has gone to the master of an ancient and rare artform: scrimshaw.Awards were made at the opening night on Friday (January 10) for the annual exhibition (now in its 18th year), which raises funds for the Holy Family Catholic School art programme.Aspiring Art Prize event manager Kelcey Radford told the Wānaka App that artist Gus Milne, who is self-taught in the art of scrimshaw (engravings done in bone or ivory), took out the supreme award (the Craig’s Investment Properties $20,000 prize) with his piece ‘Sperm Whale Hunt’.Gus carves his works on recycled ivory piano keys, fossilised walrus tusk, mammoth ivory and whales’ teeth. Exhibition judges Sarah Brown and Chloe Cull said he uses tiny scenes to capture big stories and histories. “He is an incredibly well researched artist, with a deep interest in the global history of his craft that he uses to explore aspects of Aotearoa New Zealand's history within,” they said.“He reflects on the long term impact on the environment of the materials he uses, and is careful to reuse materials and work sustainability.”Runner-up Anne Baldock’s artwork ‘The Stakeholders’ won the Craig Myles Colliers Prize of $3,000.Kelcey said the work captured the attention of the judges for many reasons, particularly the artist's ability to tell such a vast story within a small frame.“A closer look reveals a rich narrative - from the humans caring for our local environments to the native animals and introduced pests that all play a role in ecological conversations,” Sarah and Chloe said. Best landscape artist (and the Peak Accommodation Prize $2,500) went to Sean Beldon for ‘Remarkables’; the best work under $1,000 (the Calder Group prize of $1,000) went to Lisa Banks for ‘Leaving Takaka’; the best small work under 400mm x 400mm (the Wānaka Siteworks $500 prize) went to Lee-Ann Toyokawa for ‘No progress for Oliver’; and the merit award (the Wānaka Self Storage prize of $500) went to Katie Robinson for ‘Tulip Season’.Kelly Pearce's auction piece, ‘Farm View XV’, also sold at auction for $840 on Friday, Kelcey said.The weekend’s exhibition at Holy Family School displayed a wide variety of media from around 150 artists from all over New Zealand. Tomorrow (Monday January 13) is the last day.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Freeskier Luca Harrington (20) has claimed another Freeski Big Air World Cup win this morning (January 11).This win follows Luca’s career first World Cup win last weekend.“This is absolutely incredible, I did not expect this to happen, it’s been such an honour to be here [Krieschberg, Austria] and to put down two runs again and walk away with the win is incredible,” Luca said. Luca dominated from the first of three runs, posting the highest single jump score of the day with a flawless switch right triple corked 1620 esco grab which was awarded a huge 95.75 points out of a possible 100. He immediately backed that up with the third highest score of the day (92.00) on his second run, stomping a right triple corked 1800 safety grab for a combined winning score of 187.75, nine points clear of his nearest competitor. “I switched up my game plan today so I was a little unsure coming in, but I am glad I did it and I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me to this moment, my friends, my family, Hamish McDougall [Luca’s coach], Snow Sports New Zealand and all my sponsors, I wouldn’t be here without them.” Luca said.Men’s Big Air World Cup Podium [L-R] Matej Svancer AUT (2nd), Luca Harrington NZL (1st), Leo Landroe NOR (3rd). PHOTO: FIS Park & PipeLuca was joined on the podium by local hero Matej Svancer of Austria in second and Norway’s Leo Landroe in third. Luca is now focusing on the LAAX Open World Cup where he will compete in Freeski Slopestyle.

The Snow Farm’s annual report for 2024 has highlighted an eventful season at the country’s only cross country ski area, including the opening of a new day lodge.The construction of the carpark and new day lodge before the opening of the ski season - a $900,000 project - has left the organisation with a debt of over $200,000.Board chair Samuel Belk said repayment of the debt is a priority for the organisation before funding the next stage of development.The board’s priorities for the next few years include: to develop a new toilet building jointly with QLDC; develop a water supply, water storage and solar electrical system; and planning and fundraising to eventually complete stage 2 of the base-building and construct a groomer shed.The report said there had been significant growth each year in the utilisation of huts and more moderate increased visitation by members of the public to walk or bike the trails at the Pisa Recreation Reserve.Samuel said the board plans to improve communication to the public about the reserve's unique attributes.“Public awareness continues to increase but we still can’t help but feel that the conditions and opportunities for activities are not widely understood,” he said.For the upcoming season Snow Farm is seeking volunteers to assist from 10:30am to 1:30pm with tasks like greeting guests, managing car park flow, and helping with bag transfers.“We are also looking to hire casual and part-time local staff, particularly those interested in returning annually, as they bring invaluable experience to our team,” the report said.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A Wānaka environmental group has made a submission in support of the proposed Helios solar farm in the Maniototo. The Upper Clutha Environmental Society, led by Julian Haworth, has often lobbied against development in the area, however was one of 35 out of 171 submissions advocating the project to go ahead.The society believed the visual effects of solar power were significantly less than those associated with wind power, especially large-scale wind turbines.It also strongly supported the provision of the battery energy storage system as part of the solar farm. “The society is aware that many similar large-scale solar/battery storage developments have been successfully built in places such as Australia, California and Texas, among others,” the submission said.Both the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Otago Regional Council (ORC) remained neutral in their submissions, with both outlining several concerns they wanted addressed if consent was granted.The regional council was supportive of renewable energy projects that would bolster the resilience of its communities and assist with New Zealand’s response to challenges and obligations with respect to climate change.But it had also been made aware of community concern with the current proposal around the risk to the environment from the potential of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) being compromised, most likely through fire, and any resulting discharge of contaminants to the environment, particularly the groundwater resource.ORC considered that for a large commercial operation - and one which was a new land use activity for the region - the application needed to provide greater clarity on its assessment of risk to the groundwater resource from any potential compromising of the BESS. DOC was interested in the ecological effects of the proposal, including adverse effects on Australasian Bittern / Matuku-hūrepo ( Botaurus poiciloptilus) - which were present in the Maniototo basin.Australasian bitterns were classed as ‘nationally critical,’ the same threat classification as kākāpō, indicating they were heading towards imminent extinction unless conservation management activities were successful.DOC was concerned about the risk of bird strike, displacement and deterrence, with solar arrays.“As photovoltaic energy projects grow in New Zealand, gaining more comprehensive monitoring, data on ecological effects will be critical for an understanding of their effects, particularly on New Zealand avian species,” the submission said.A resource consent hearing will be held in due course and updates posted on the Central Otago District Council website.PHOTO: Supplied

An animal sanctuary near Wānaka is offering refuge for animals and a unique experience for visitors with ‘behind-the-scenes’ farm tours now on offer. Kind Farm is home to a variety of animals, including dogs, pigs, goats, donkeys, miniature ponies and a flock of hand-reared sheep. Owner Dale Courtenay - a lifelong animal lover - started out fostering and rehoming animals before she “quickly recognised that I can’t rehome anything”.“I wanted to create a space where we were kind to animals,” she said. “I wanted to make my little bit of change in the world I guess.”Nearly every animal at Kind Farm has a “sad story”, Dale said, “but we want to leave that behind when they come to us”.The goal is to provide them with a fantastic life in their “forever home”, a rural property near the Cardrona River.Kind Farm has its own nursery, and native revegetation work on the property is also well underway.It has been used for a handful of special events like weddings; it is also home to a ceramic artist’s studio; and recently it started welcoming visitors for farm tours.“We’ve stayed under the radar a bit on purpose because we wanted to be set up when we did finally invite the public in,” Dale said.During the farm tours Dale said visitors can meet and interact with the animals, and learn about the history of the property (a former gold mining site) and the Kind Farm ethos.The tours are set for an hour but usually last longer as Dale says she is “a bit of a talker”.Seeing the visitors recognise the unique quirks and personalities of the different animals is always a highlight, Dale said.Setting up Kind Farm has been a huge project but Dale isn’t finished yet.“Stage two” of Kind Farm will turn it into a destination with a cafe, landscaped grounds for picnicking and more, Dale said.Learn more about Kind Farm here.PHOTO: Kind Farm

The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter carried out 85 missions between Christmas Day and January 5 - with a significant number in Central Otago.Sunday January 5 was the busiest day of the holiday period with 13 missions, including a two-vehicle crash near the Homer Tunnel, a search and rescue in Mt Aspiring and two other separate accidents at Glendhu Bay and Clyde.Monday December 30 was also a busy day with 12 missions, including a significant number of hospital transfers - those making up the majority of jobs over the holidays (36 in total, compared to 25 accidents and 22 medical accidents).January 2 and 3 saw 10 missions each, and Christmas Day was the quietest day with only three jobs.Of the accidents, seven were in Central Otago.Helicopters Otago owner Graeme Gale said the holiday period was similar to last year, but having two big road crashes (Kingston and Milford Sound), put huge pressure on their resources.“You put a bus accident in the mix where you have six machines down and then you have to do a hospital transfer at the same time, that’s as busy as it comes.”He said the sheer influx of people holidaying in Central Otago with the good weather meant people always wanted to get into the outdoors.“And good things can go bad.”Regarding the road accident on the Milford/Te Anau highway where there was no cellphone coverage - the rescue service often did not know what to expect until it got there.“We had two choppers in Milford Sound and then a locator beacon going off and two people needing winched off a hill, plus sick people urgently needing hospital transfers . . . it’s a real mixture and you just don’t know what you’re going to get from one minute to the next.”He said one minute there could be seven machines on the ground at the base, “and then it can all just change with one phone call.”Weather conditions over Christmas also made things challenging, particularly with transfers to Christchurch when there was low cloud and fog.“For years we hardly did a job on Christmas day, but now that’s changed. But the region is so supportive of what we do.”PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Library is still the busiest of the eight libraries in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.Its members checked out more than 270,000 books over the last financial year.This was more than half of the total of around half a million books checked out across all eight libraries.Wānaka Library also got plenty of foot traffic: more than 120,000 people walked through its doors.This made up over a third of the 300,000 or so visits across all libraries.The local library also signed up around 126 new members for each month of the year.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) branch library manager Upper Clutha Julie Stretch said Wānaka Library also hosted a “significant number” of Te Ao Māori events.They included Te Reo Māori Storytime, Local Māori Stories, events for Matariki and Waitangi Day, among others.A “huge number and variety” of events for adults also took place, ranging from film screenings to LGBT+ events, bingo, the Festival of Authors and much more.Julie said the local library team “all feel grateful to work in a library that is so well supported by the community”.She noted that the Hāwea Library was also getting busier. New fire doors were installed which means the library now has capacity for 95 people.District-wide, some of the big successes of the year for the libraries team included going fines-free in August, the new website and the increased use of the Libraries app.Find more about all the things on offer at the Wānaka Library - and other libraries in the district - here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Plastic Free Wānaka (PFW) has partnered with Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) in launching a summer campaign to educate and inspire visitors to cut down on single-use waste.PWF leads the SUCfree Wānaka initiative, which was launched in 2019 to reduce the use of single-use-cups.Eleven cafes in Wānaka are now fully single-use-cup free and (according to a 2023 Wastebusters survey) 63 percent of Wānaka residents now follow the ‘sit, buy or BYO’ ethos.This saves an estimated 855,000 cups from landfill each year, PFW said.The new campaign aims to inspire visitors to adopt the same sustainable habits, PFW board member Sophie Ward said.“Taking a moment to sit down for a coffee doesn’t just reduce waste - it lets you connect with the beauty of Wānaka and support local businesses,” Sophie said.“A small change - like bringing a reusable cup or taking a moment to sit down - can have a big impact.”“By involving visitors, we can make a significant impact and provide even more support for local cafés embracing sustainable practices.”As part of the campaign, PFW is inviting accommodation providers, including hotels, motels, and AirBnB hosts to spread the word. Downloadable resources, including posters and guest communication templates, are available from PFW to support this effort. Lake Wānaka Tourism head of destination Gizelle Regan said the organisation was “100 percent behind” the campaign.“It’s all about looking after this incredible place we call home,” she said.“By ditching single-use cups, we can all play a part in keeping Wānaka beautiful for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future.”Accommodation providers and local businesses interested in supporting the movement can access resources at the PFW website here or by emailing Emma ([email protected]). PHOTO: Plastic Free Wanaka

The water quality around the Lake Hāwea boat ramp is again safe for swimming, Otago Regional Council (ORC) says.On December 30 routine testing found contamination and swimming has not been recommended at the popular swimming location for the last week and a half.Results from testing on January 6 have confirmed the location is now safe for swimming.An ORC representative said the high levels of bacteria previously found at the site was likely the result of run-off following heavy rain in the Lake Hāwea area. Weekly monitoring of the site will continue throughout the summer.Swimmers can check for water quality updates at the LAWA website.PHOTO: Wānaka App 

Police have dealt with cocaine possession, indecent exposure, an attempted car break-in and “a lot of incidents involving alcohol” in the past week, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts says.“Alcohol has been a factor in incidents including family harm, breaching alcohol bans, disorderly behaviour and EBA’s [drink driving],” she said.Enquiries are also continuing to establish “identity and culpability” regarding the incident at the Dinosaur Park earlier this month when a group of 300-or-so young people gathered and multiple assaults occurred. Read more: Multiple assaults at Dinosaur ParkAt the Shihad concert on Saturday (January 4) one male was arrested for cocaine possession and another intoxicated male was trespassed from the venue after refusing to leave.On Monday morning (January 6) “a female runner encountered a male who indecently exposed himself on Rob Roy Lane”, Fi said. He was described as a male, aged approximately 17 years old, with a slim to medium build and short brown hair. He was riding a mountain bike.“Anyone with any information can call 105 quoting the following reference P061198242.”It has also been a busy week for road policing, Fi said.Early on Wednesday January 1 three people were apprehended for drink driving; there were 232 driving complaints (with a 75 percent attendance rate) across the week; and, between Saturday January 4 and Monday January 6 speeds of up to 127kph were recorded.“Police impounded a vehicle from a male who was allegedly responsible for numerous dangerous driving complaints over the NYE period,” Fi added.Wānaka SAR also had two call-outs on Sunday (January 5).A beacon was activated after a runner on Mt Gold fell approximately 10 metres down a rock face.“That person had to be airlifted to Dunedin hospital,” Fi said.“In the second unrelated event, a party of two activated their beacon on Humboldt Range. One of the party injured their knee and was airlifted to Lakes Hospital.”A lot of property has been handed in to the Wānaka Police Station in the past week, Fi said. “If you have lost any items of value, please submit a report online [at the] Police 105 website. We will then be able to reunite property to its owner,” Fi said.Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Wānaka App

There has been an increase in campers staying overnight in previously prohibited areas - including people camping in streets and carparks - so far this summer, following the dissolution of this district’s freedom camping bylaw.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) stopped enforcing its 2021 Freedom Camping Bylaw after it was revoked by the High Court in early November after the NZ Motor Caravan Owners Association (NZMCA) challenged the bylaw’s legality.Read more: Council’s freedom camping bylaw ruled invalid“As expected, we’ve seen campers arriving in larger numbers since Christmas and there have been some issues relating to littering, rubbish dumping, and inappropriate parking,” QLDC responsible camping programme manager Amy Galloway told the Wānaka App. “While this is disappointing, our ambassadors and enforcement officers are keeping a close eye on things and are encouraging responsible camping and the use of nearby commercial campsites.”There were 60 infringement notices issued under the Freedom Camping Act (mostly for non-self-contained vehicles) and 12 under the Reserves Act during the holiday period (December 23 to January 5), a QLDC spokesperson said.Amy said the council’s summer ambassadors have reported that conversations with campers and visitors have been positive and advice around sustainable camping and local rules are being well received. “Signage, maps, printed resources and in-person education have been positive tools, and the ambassadors have found most campers have been happy to comply with the rules,” she said. “The relatively low number of infringement notices issued over the holiday period for camping on public reserves shows most freedom campers are doing so within the rules.”A camper utilising Wānaka’s Station Park prior to the council’s now revoked Freedom Camping Bylaw.However, she said there has been a rise in campers staying overnight in spots which were previously prohibited under the now-quashed 2021 bylaw. “Some campers are using residential streets and community facilities such as the Queenstown Event Centre. Our ambassadors are reminding campers that community facility car parks are not intended to be used as a campsite, and use of the spaces needs to be done with respect.”Since December the ambassadors have completed more than 1,000 site surveys across the district, reporting maintenance issues and signs of poor behaviour to council officers. They have also interviewed 175 campers via the council’s camper survey to gain insight into campers’ intentions and behaviours while they are in the district.Amy said a key focus of the summer education programme (alongside responsible camping practices) is the new self-containment certifications for camping vehicles. “Strengthened self-containment requirements for rental vehicles were in place from 7 December and will be in place for private vehicles later in 2025,” she said.Work is underway to review and develop a new Freedom Camping Bylaw for the district. Find more information here.PHOTOS: Wānaka AppRead more: Council to blame for freedom camping ‘open slather’ - NZMCA

Locals have reported waiting for up to an hour to cross the Albert Town Bridge during the peak holiday period, but those traffic jams are unlikely to get a bridge upgrade fast-tracked, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says.The single-lane bridge is always under pressure around Christmas and New Year’s, when huge numbers of visitors are in the area, but this festive season’s waits were some of the longest.NZTA told the Wānaka App the festive season traffic is unlikely to push the bridge’s planned upgrade further up the priority list.Construction on a bridge upgrade (billed to include an expansion to a two-lane bridge) is unlikely to start before 2030 and the wait could be even longer.Read more: Two lane upgrade possible for Albert Town BridgeThe planned improvements to the bridge are part of the NZTA Waka Kotahi State Highway Investment Proposal 2024-2034.An NZTA representative said traffic numbers and issues are always “part of the picture” when NZTA work is prioritised.Because the bridge has historically been congested during holiday periods, this will likely have already been factored into the timing for the upgrade.Calls for a bridge upgrade have been long-running, most recently from the Albert Town Community Association (ATCA).The ATCA said to NZTA in a 13-page letter last year that the bridge is insufficient for current and projected demand and it is at significant risk of foundation failure in the event of a major earthquake.If the bridge failed, the ATCA said, it would leave the West Coast with very limited road, sea and air access.The Albert Town bridge was built in 1930. On an average day 5,500 vehicles cross the bridge, about five percent of which are heavy vehicles.PHOTO: Wānaka App

There have been few incidents on the Upper Clutha’s lakes and around rivers during the holiday break: an “encouraging” start to the season, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) waterways regulatory services manager Craig Fahey says.Craig, who oversees the council’s waterways team and the harbourmaster contract, said while it has been “incredibly busy”, most people have been complying with safety rules.“On the whole behaviour on the lakes has been really positive,” Craig told the Wānaka App. “Thankfully there’s been very few reported incidents and no accidents during this period which is really encouraging.”“The trends are more volume in every area, more jet skis, more people using all types of recreational craft so more pressure on ramps and launch areas for the two week holiday period,” he said.“We’re largely really happy with the way people cooperated, understanding the pressure on resources.”He said Saturday December 28 was probably the busiest day on the water (Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea and the Clutha/Mata-Au River) the district has ever had.The waterways team also estimated more than 500 passive users (people swimming or floating) were on the Clutha River on New Year’s Day.Despite concerns raised on social media by locals about the conflict between jet boats and passive users, Craig said there had not been any reported incidents of concern.“It’s something we’re keenly aware of and the harbormaster is actively monitoring as much as resources allow,” he said.The number of unauthorised motorised craft using the river between the Outlet and the Albert Town bridge had reduced this year because of ongoing monitoring and education, Craig said.In general, there have been reports of “the occasional person who breaks the rules”, including a few incidents of vessels exceeding the speed limit close to the lakeshore, he said.There have also been complaints on social media about the reduction in space for boats at the Wānaka marina (due to completion of stage five of the Lakefront Development Plan and a new walking and cycling track), but Craig said ramp management meant boats and cyclists and pedestrians were managed “smoothly” during the busy period.Craig said the waterways team expects a very busy January and into February on the lakes and rivers but “the real peak holiday period influx seems to have abated”.Meanwhile, periods of rain and wind during the festive season meant a relatively quiet few weeks for Wānaka’s Coastguard.The Coastguard, which is based at Eely Point, focuses on rescuing people on the lake including assisting those who have broken down.Coastguard president Jonathan Walmsley said the lake had been “relatively quiet” so far this summer.Wānaka Coastguard president Jonathan Walmsley PHOTO: Wānaka App“We had a couple of calls a week ago on the same day. One was a breakdown at Mou Waho and one had run out of fuel north of Ruby Island,” he said.Both boats were towed home safely.Apart from “a couple of other calls” the year had so far not been particularly busy, Jonathan said.“I think the combination of not so great weather and wind has resulted in less than perfect conditions for the lake,” he added.Coastguard will be supporting the Upper Clutha multisport annual event this coming weekend, and will also support the Ruby Island swimming event at the end of January.