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

Upper Beach Street 

Lower Beach Street 

We are currently installing light poles and finishing the concrete / paving along Beach Street. 

Service investigations on the final section of Upper Beach Street are underway (outside Glassons / Hallensteins and the Remarkable Sweet Shop)   This means another change for vehicles using Cow Lane – access to and from Cow Lane will be via Camp Street. 

Cow Lane is narrow so please take it easy.  To help things run smoothly we’ll have the following measures in place:

• A traffic controller will be on-site from 6.00am – 8.00pm Monday – Friday; and from 9.00am – 4.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays;

• A lit, flashing sign will let drivers on Camp Street know there is a vehicle exiting Cow Lane;

• A mirror will assist drivers on Camp Street to see vehicles in Cow Lane.

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 final stage of the Park Street upgrade is underway and expected to be complete by the end of May.   While there have been some delays, the scope for this portion of the upgrade has been expanded. 

In addition to renewing the kerb, channel and footpath along the eastern side of Park Street, the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna crew are also rebuilding the whole road surface.

• The majority of the shared path on the western side will be complete by Friday 11 March;

• Work will begin on the eastern side footpath on Monday 14 March, with the new kerb line finished by the end of March;

• We’ll then move onto rebuilding the road surface during April;

• During May, asphalt will be laid along the eastern side footpath, the raised tables will be constructed and light poles will be installed.

Traffic management is in place on Park Street while construction is underway. Please follow all detour signage in place and allow extra time if you need to travel in this area. 

Access for pedestrians and residents will be maintained throughout the works.

The work will be noisy at times.  

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

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)

We are close to finished upgrading the underground services in this area. We’re also installing ducting for new traffic signals at the intersection with Shotover Street, constructing foundations for new light poles and upgrading Brian Smith Park with new furniture, paving, planting and lighting. 

Upper Brecon Street (between Man Street and the Gondola)

Good progress is being made to construct wide shared paths on both sides of upper Brecon Street. 

A large retaining wall - ‘Te Taumata o Hākitekura’ – has been constructed near the boundary between Brecon Street and the Queenstown Cemetery. The retaining wall references Ahi Kā (ancestral connection and ongoing identity) and the narrative of Hākitekura – relating to Te Taumata o Hākitekura (the resting place of Hākitekura) – the original name for Ben Lomond.

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.    

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

Service investigations are underway to ensure we have a good picture as to where pipes and cables are located under the ground. This will help us reduce the risk of affecting nearby businesses and will lower the risk of workers being injured on site when we start upgrading the underground services.

Work is expected to be completed by December 2022.

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.