Reduced routes in the Wakatipu had been in effect since last July. At the time, it was necessary because an already short-staffed fleet of drivers were knocked back by Covid and winter illness, causing a flurry of cancellations.
Dunedin’s Orbus service was also reduced at the same time, but the full service there resumed on February 1.
Mr Lewers said the last time he spoke with an ORC councillor he was told they had secured four extra bus drivers and confirmed he was expecting the Queenstown routes to be running at full capacity in three weeks.
"I’ll be a little bit annoyed if it doesn’t happen," he said.
If the return to a full schedule was further delayed, Mr Lewers said he would likely discuss the matter with councillors.
"Officers of QLDC have talked with Waka Kotahi[NZ Transport Agency] and I’ve talked to the airport about having a combined governance model over the public transport here but ... the financial decisions all sit with the ORC."
He said he was trying to establish a partnership model through which the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Waka Kotahi and ORC "all have a say in the decision-making", but did not think that would happen this year.
"At the moment [the decision-making] is not happening quick enough."
Adding to his frustration was ORC’s decision to join a national effort lobbying for free bus fares for tertiary students, under-25s and community service card-holders.
"That’s not where the effort and the concentration should be," Mr Lewers said.
"It should actually be getting bus drivers and getting a full service here, as quick as possible.
"I get a little bit annoyed when they start yahooing about ‘free buses’ — your priorities are wrong; just give us buses.
"You can probably hear from my voice it’s frustrating, very, very frustrating."
Longer-term, he was concerned a planned investment by Waka Kotahi via the New Zealand Upgrade Programme — a $6.8 billion investment across six main centres, including Queenstown — might be for nothing.
Mr Lewers said the agency was looking to create a series of bus priority lanes from Howards Dr, at Ladies Mile, to Queenstown.
"My fear is that after five years ... we’ll have all this flash, nice bus priority infrastructure on the ground, but we’ll have no buses using them."
