A developer is so concerned about the prospect a proposed Frankton roundabout will not be built within the next year it has offered to "forward-fund" the project.
There is widespread support to build the roundabout near Glenda Dr, but the project seems set to be delayed because of a combination of Environment Court proceedings and time-consuming funding decisionsThe roundabout is proposed for State Highway 6, north of the Glenda Dr intersection.
Developer Shotover Park said last night it was so concerned about the safety aspect it was offering, "if necessary", to "forward-fund" the project by way of a loan so the roundabout could be built in the summer construction season.
Should the roundabout proceed, Glenda Dr would become left-turn in only, with the roundabout - which would link to the proposed Eastern Access Rd and a secondary road to Glenda Dr - used for all other entry and exits.
Shotover Park Ltd (SPL) requested the Environment Court to release an agreed consent order for the Glenda Dr notices of requirement (NORs), which had previously been signed by all parties involved, including SPL, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Queenstown Central Ltd (QCL).
The NORs are bundled with Environment Court decisions relating to plan change 19 - Frankton Flats and Plan Change 35, relating to Queenstown Airport Corporation's air noise boundaries.
Those decisions are expected in October.
In a joint memorandum of counsel, SPL said there were "safety issues" with the existing intersection, along with constraints which applied to the construction of the roundabout.
"In particular, sealing of the roads cannot take place between April 30 and October 1 of any calendar year."
Airey Consultants had estimated a nine-month design and construction period and, to meet an April 30, 2013, deadline, the design phase would need to begin "soon".
"In short, if a consent order is issued in early August 2012, it is possible that design and construction of the roads can be completed by April 30, 2013.
"However, if a consent order is issued in September or October 2012 ... there will only be seven months before the ... deadline.
"Under that scenario, the roads will not be sealed until sometime after October 2013."
The council was responsible for the Eastern Access Rd and linking roads to Glenda Dr and had already set aside $3.4 million for design and construction of those roads in next year's long-term plan.
While the the council initially advised the court on August 6 it "saw no need to pester the court to seek an earlier release of a decision", it advised on August 8 its submission was "in hindsight remiss in not specifically supporting the fact that safety issues remain a significant concern so far as the Glenda Dr intersection is concerned."
However, QCL submitted there was "no benefit, and significant risk, in expediting the Glenda Dr NORs in the manner suggested by SPL and others".
Council roading manager Denis Mander said one of the issues with the proposed roundabout was its strategic importance in determining the location of the Eastern Access Rd, which was "very much a plan change 19 issue".
"The roundabout has major safety benefits.
"I would say ... that one of the motivations [of expediting the Glenda Dr NORs] are the safety benefits that would come from it.
"Over recent years the crash rate hasn't been too bad, but there is a concern as traffic grows people get more impatient."
However, the proposed State Highway roundabout fell under the NZTA's jurisdiction with it expecting $6.4 million in funding in the 2013-14 financial year, subject to confirmation in the 2012-15 National Land Transport Programme. The ODT understands that is likely to be released next month.
NZTA Otago-Southland State Highways manager Ian Duncan said it was "not a straightforward situation" and did not wish to speculate on the best case scenario for construction.
There were still matters which required resolution, for example the designation and land purchase.
"Recent safety improvements to the existing Glenda Dr intersection have lowered the crash rate to the point where it now ranks below some other crash sites for improvement work.
"This joint project ...includes the construction of the State Highway roundabout; the first section of the Eastern Access Rd and another connecting road to Glenda Dr; and modifying the Glenda Dr intersection to become left-in only thereby eliminating the right turns causing a number of crashes at this site.
