The Queenstown Lakes District Council has today agreed to adopt a long term strategic approach to investment in future infrastructure for the Kawarau Falls Bridge. This decision will see the budget allocated to wastewater and water main pipelines in the construction of the Kawarau Fall Bridge significantly increased to future proof the investment.

The pipeline will be built into the new two lane bridge, which is currently under construction and will replace the outdated one lane bridge currently in operation at Kawarau falls.

The rise in cost from a total budget of $5.3 million to $7.2 million now factors increased growth to housing numbers on the Western side of the Kawarau River.

Queenstown Lake Mayor Jim Boult sees the increase in costs as smart investment. “This pipeline is a critical piece of infrastructure. We’re playing catch up in our infrastructure investment and we have to get ahead of the game. The reality is that we need to right size our critical infrastructure investment.”

“The increased scope includes pipework between the original bridge and Hanley Downs new pipeline at the southernmost boundary of the project site. Common sense says there isn’t much point installing a pipe that finishes in the middle of a very busy road, only to have to dig it up and disrupt traffic to connect it at a later date.”

The pipeline has also been designed with flexible joints at each end to allow for both heat expansion and the ability to withstand a strong earthquake without rupturing.

Council will be able to recover some of the cost of the upgrade through development contributions. These are paid by developers and are based upon the amount of extra use a development may place upon Council infrastructure.

ENDS