Queenstown residents say chronic traffic congestion is wrecking their lives
Queenstown residents report severe traffic jams at unpredictable times, affecting school runs, emergency response and business, prompting the mayor to establish a taskforce.
What happened
Queenstown residents are experiencing chronic traffic congestion at all hours, with commutes stretching from 30 minutes to over an hour and school bus rides lasting three hours. The impacts are widespread: volunteer firefighter Tanya Stone has missed emergency callouts; driving instructor Rachael Gerard cannot take on more students; and business owners face delays coordinating events. Mayor John Glover established a 20-member taskforce in response, comprising councillors, business leaders, transport representatives and mana whenua. The taskforce is exploring passenger ferries and traffic forecasting as solutions, though Glover acknowledges funding constraints: the New Zealand Transport Agency's annual spend is set to decrease in real terms over the next three to five years even as thousands of new houses are being built through fast-tracked developments. Resident Jono Brown called for infrastructure to be built before more housing, citing 7000 residents already in Lake Hayes Estate and the southern corridor at capacity. A regional tourism organisation warned in August that Queenstown was struggling to cope with tourist numbers.
Why it matters
The taskforce announcement follows the regional tourism organisation's August warning that Queenstown was struggling to cope with tourist numbers. Earlier weeks saw Crown Range Road partially closed due to storm damage on 15 September, and State Highway 6 remained closed with limited convoy access following late August flooding. This story adds the scale of the impact on residents and the taskforce's search for solutions amid declining transport funding and rapid housing development.
Follow the whole thread: Queenstown road infrastructure deterioration
Key facts
- Commutes can take 30 minutes to an hour; school bus rides last three hours
- Taskforce comprises about 20 district and regional councillors, business leaders, transport representatives and mana whenua
- 7000 residents in Lake Hayes Estate alone
- NZTA annual spend set to decrease in real terms over next three to five years
- Lake Hayes resident moved to Queenstown 12 years ago from Auckland
Primary source: Queenstown Lakes District mayor's anti-traffic congestion taskforce
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RNZ
'It's hell': Queenstown workers, mayor, firefighter fed up with traffic congestion
Locals say traffic jams are not confined to peak periods and seem to strike at any time.