The process for procuring the services of council consultants was approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council infrastructure services committee this week.
Several capital works contracts expired on January 15 and consultants for those projects have been re-engaged until June 30 to see through road rehabilitation design works.
Contracts for consultants working on 3 Waters projects would also be continued in the short term.
Acting capital works manager Steve Hewland explained in a report to the committee that it had been intended to engage engineering consultants by December 31 but this had not happened because of pressures caused by a very large capital works programme, "the largest in recent years".
Other issues included staff shortages, high work volume in the long-term plan and the need to update the capital works manual.
The council had been focusing on getting annual plan projects through the design phases and getting early tendering for next year's road rehabilitation projects.
This would achieve good value for money and timely completion of projects, Mr Hewland said.
Project manager Ken Gousmett told the committee contractors had been advised and given the opportunity to understand the situation and the risks.
"They haven't raised any concerns about the process," he said.
The new contract start date is July 1, to coincide with the new financial year.
The contract term will be three years plus two rights of renewal of one year (total five years).
Separate fee proposals will be requested for transport and water disciplines from each consultant.
Any decision on how consultant services would be split between the disciplines would be made following the tender evaluation.
Criteria and weighting will be given to track record (20%), relevant experience (25%), relevant skills (25%), methodology (10%) and price (20%).
