Upgraded Two Mile UV Treatment Plant

In response to the cryptosporidium outbreak that affected Queenstown’s water supply back in October 2023, we installed a temporary UV treatment solution at Fernhill Reservoir above the Two Mile water intake to provide safe drinking water in the area.

Now, we’re working to install a more permanent and larger UV treatment plant, which will be located next to the Two Mile intake and Sunshine Bay Trail and ensure drinking water in Queenstown, Fernhill, and Sunshine Bay remains safe and compliant.

We’ve also added to the project construction of additional building space for a pre-UV filtration plant room next to the UV treatment plant we’re already building. The addition of pre-UV filtration will protect other treatment equipment and help to remove lake algae (Lindavia Intermedia) from the water supply, making the system more robust and easing the nuisance algae can cause in our network.  

The pre-UV filtration project is already included in the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan. By constructing the additional building space now, we create the opportunity to fast track the installation of this infrastructure within the next three years. Completing all the necessary building work at one time, while the current contractor is mobilised, also means the work is delivered as cost effectively as possible.

Once installation is complete, the temporary UV treatment solution used by Fernhill Reservoir will be redeployed elsewhere in the district.

Work is being carried out by Fulton Hogan, with assistance from Veolia.

The detour around the construction site on Sunshine Bay Track is open.

Tuesday 29 October 2024

We’ve made a change to the scope of this project, which now includes construction of additional building space for a pre-UV filtration plant room. As a result, delivery timelines have been extended and we now expect all construction to be completed by April 2025.

We’ve provided more information on the new construction dates below.

As with any construction project, there will be some disruption while work is undertaken. This is likely to include some noise, vibration, and construction machinery movements in the area, but these will be minimised as much as possible.

A temporary detour at the start of Sunshine Bay Track and around the construction site is currently open, and we expect this route to remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period.

Crews will ensure pedestrian access is maintained provided lake levels remain low and any changes to the construction site will be shared in advance.

Work on the UV treatment upgrades at the Two Mile water intake has been extended through until April 2025.

This change in the delivery timeline has been brought on by a range of factors, but mainly as a result of changes we’ve made to the scope of the project to include construction of additional building space for a pre-UV filtration plant room next to the UV treatment plant we’re already building. 

The extended date of completion also includes unexpected delays we’ve experienced due to several wet weather events which have saturated ground conditions, slowed progress, and at times, required crews to work on other sites around the Queenstown Lakes District to undertake emergency works.

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please contact QLDC's Services team by phone on 03 441 0499 or email at services@qldc.govt.nz