The developer turbocharging Kingston is in the early stages of exploring an electric foiling ferry between the southern end of Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Bay.
Kingston Village Ltd (KVL) plans on adding up to 750 affordable sections immediately south of the existing township, and has already sold 110 this year.
KVL senior development manager Nicola Tristram said the aim was to provide a 30-passenger service with a travelling time of just 40 minutes.
That compares favourably with the current journey along Kingston Rd, which is often affected by chronic traffic congestion from about Jack’s Point onwards.
It made sense to terminate the journey in Queenstown Bay as going to the Frankton marina would add about 15 minutes, and there was no readily available transport from there to Frankton.
Ideally, Frankton-bound commuters could then jump on to the proposed gondola — also electric powered — from central Queenstown, she said.
Potentially, KVL would run two ferries to provide a both-ways service on the hour — with a 20-minute charging time on top of the 40-minute commute.
"It has to be a consistent service so people will use it."
For its vessel, KVL was considering the Swedish-designed Candela P-12 electric hydro-foiling ferry, which Meridian Energy had bought to transport staff and contractors across Lake Manapouri to its hydro-power station.
It was replacing a diesel-powered ferry for a reported saving of about $200,000 a year in fuel, maintenance and carbon-offset costs.
Elements would include an upgrade to the Kingston wharf, securing a power supply and obtaining Queenstown council and Otago Regional Council consents.
The foiling ferry was less susceptible to choppy water as it flew above the water, and because it was designed to take bikes it would suit visitors going to Kingston to undertake the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, she said.
An electric foiling ferry from Kingston was foreshadowed two years ago when Queenstown businessmen Jim Boult and Rod Drury revealed their plans to electrify the resort, based off a new power cable between Kingston and Queenstown.
Meanwhile, Kingston resident and regular Queenstown commuter Tori Keating said a ferry would be "fantastic if it happens".
"As it is now, the road is already getting congested in the mornings and afternoons with commuter traffic, and with a new subdivision it will only intensify.
"Certainly for Kingston residents now we get slowed down when we reach Jack’s Point and join the traffic queue there, and with Park Ridge coming online, too, it’s not going to get any less congested, so a commuter boat makes perfect sense."
It would also be great if the ferry service received some public funding.
"Our [regional council] rates currently help support a public transport system in Queenstown our residents can’t utilise, and with our growing population our contribution to the rates pool is increasing, too."
Kingston Community Association chairwoman Kimberley Marshall said everyone in her community would love a ferry, though she suggested it would be a long way off given the town’s population.
"I guess people are used to driving to the supermarket and the daycare when they go to town for work, so you might take a bit of resetting people’s mindsets."
