Criticisms are growing around Mt Ida Road and Aubrey Road in relation to excessive flooding of both areas every time rain falls. This issue has seemingly been going on for the past three years, since the building of Northlake, and no action has been taken by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to resolve this. 

QLDC has confirmed that the fault is not due to a blockage of a foreign object but rather as a result of flawed design work. The infrastructure installed along Aubrey Rd is designed to soak the stormwater flows into the ground, but according to QLDC: “What we are finding is that the theoretical soakage rates, or those that were achieved at the time the soakage rates were assessed as part of the design work, are not being achieved in reality. As a result the systems installed do not have the required capacity to soak away the stormwater at an acceptable rate.” 

Although the council has been dragging their feet in regards to resolving the matter, residents can look forward to some improvements in the coming year or two as stormwater infrastructure upgrades in Wānaka have received budget allocation. “The specific projects that will be undertaken as part of this programme of work is currently being finalised, but the issues along Aubrey Rd are front of mind.” The council is currently in the process of completing the development of the stormwater model for Wānaka, which they regard as a significant milestone in allowing planning for the future stormwater infrastructure investment.