The proposed $2 million, 24km Cardrona Valley pipeline, to transport Cardrona's wastewater to the Project Pure treatment station near Wanaka Airport, was unanimously adopted by the committee at its meeting in Wanaka as the preferred solution.
Cardrona relies on private septic tank systems and three communal wastewater treatment plants.
The pipeline offered the Cardrona Valley a chance to resolve recurring public health and environmental issues, QLDC project manager Rob Darby said in a report.
More than 50 people in the Cardrona township fell ill with norovirus during a 15-day period last year. It is believed to have been caused by contamination of the township's water supply.
In 2006, six visitors to Cardrona Alpine Resort returned positive samples for norovirus. The source was suspected to have been contaminated water at the ski area facilities.
During the meeting's public forum, Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell supported the pipeline proposal, which he said was ''probably the most effective and efficient way to deal to the problem''.
However, the proposal should ensure all existing discharges were connected to the pipeline.
The desired end result was clean drinking water and an uncontaminated environment, particularly in view of proposed future development in the valley, Dr Bell said.
Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor and committee chairman Lyal Cocks agreed the pipeline should be a priority for the Cardrona Valley.
''If we don't tidy up the health issues up there then we could have some serious issues in the future, [with] impact on our image,'' Mr Cocks said.
A letter from Otago Regional Council director of resource management Dr Selva Selvarajah also endorsed the project as ''the most practical option''.
Cr Jude Battson questioned whether the fee for connecting to the scheme would be prohibitive for some people. Mr Darby explained costs would be spread across the greater Wanaka ward, making it affordable and ''quite attractive for everybody in the valley''.
The committee approved $92,000 of residual funds from the 2012-13 financial year for the pipeline project.
Interim reticulation work, to meet the immediate demands of the community for wastewater treatment, would also form part of the final solution, Mr Darby said.
Interested parties will be consulted, with the intention of proposing a project plan and costs for the 2014-15 annual plan and 2015 long-term plan.
Construction would probably take place during 2015-16, Mr Darby said.
The pipeline would still be viable if Cardrona's skifields did not connect to the scheme. However, those skifields ''have their issues with their wastewater and we believe it would be a practical proposition for them'', Mr Darby said.
The pipeline would most likely connect to the Wanaka reticulation system at the Riverbank Rd wastewater pump station.
