Community survey findings

In April 2026, we conducted a survey to find out what concerns our community most about the future of the Queenstown-Lakes and Upper Clutha districts. More than 385 people responded, which helps us to better understand the pressures people are experiencing day-to-day.  

The top concerns raised by the community were

• transport and congestion

• population growth

• the cost of living

• development, town planning and urban design

• wastewater treatment and infrastructure.

In open-ended written responses, survey respondents consistently described a sense that rapid growth in our area is outpacing infrastructure and services. 

The survey showed these issues are deeply connected. Concerns about transport, housing, wastewater, healthcare, population growth and development are not experienced in isolation. Many respondents commented the cumulative impact these pressures are having on quality of life and liveability.  

For Shaping Our Future, this reinforces the importance of creating spaces and opportunities for communities to come together to explore complex issues, understand trade-offs, reach consensus and help shape the future of our district. 

Our role is not to advocate for a single solution: it is to amplify community voice, support informed conversations and help decision makers better understand lived experience across our communities. 

We’re using the results of the survey to inform our upcoming projects. We’ve got several solution-focused workstreams and initiatives based on these findings, so watch this space.