A concept design report yesterday approved for the Hawea water upgrade solution will be up to $4 million cheaper than the original - and rejected - 2009 concept.
The new concept for Hawea's reticulated water supply was approved to proceed to the detailed design phase by the Queenstown Lakes District Council's infrastructure services committee meeting.
Previous reports indicated a system drawing water from the lake next to the campground, in addition to a new reservoir and rising and falling mains, would cost about $5.5 million.
They were not approved by the council as "the associated expenditure was beyond the means of the Hawea township".
However, the latest concept report, submitted by council capital works project manager Rob Darby, focuses on Scott's Beach Reserve as a site for a bore field to source the water.
The report outlines the reserve as a "suitable long-term solution for the Hawea reticulated water supply".
It allows for three to six bores, dual rising mains and UV water treatment units, a plant room and a standby electrical generator.
The council intends to comply with New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and the bores have been inspected by the Southern District Health Board.
"The current concept design is far simpler and more elegant than previous designs," Mr Darby's report said.
Even allowing for a "generous contingency", the project cost estimates range from $1,070,000 to $1,581,000 over the next 10 to 15 years to address water demand from 2021 to 2033 and beyond.
To date, $75,000 has already been spent on construction, testing and analysis of bores.
Total funds available in annual plan and draft long-term plan budgets are $1,550,550.
