Despite heavy frosts in early July, the mild winter has saved Queenstown Lakes District Council money on road gritting and de-icing.
The council's transport manager Denis Mander said "definitely we will have been spending a lot less that last year, with not having those three snow events".
Following heavy snow at lake level last year, the council released a winter maintenance plan before winter this year.
The report revised priority roads and footpaths to be cleared and mentioned a tractor-mounted snow blower which was available for use from a contractor if the need arose.
Mr Mander said this year "we have not had the conditions to give it a try" but the device would be on stand-by again next year.
He was unsure how much the mild weather had saved the council, but said a debriefing report would be released in due course.
"We are looking at having a debrief with NZski at the end of September ... while it's still fresh on our minds.
"It could be October or November before the report comes out."
