| 5 The newly opened extension, which cost $58m and opened on March 16, marks a major milestone in the long-running redevelopment scheduled for completion in early 2029. Skyline Enterprises - Queenstown: Naylor Love - Queenstown Gondola REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Taking on the challenges Contact the team: queenstown@aquaheat.nz Aquaheat has played a key role in the redevelopment of Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola, delivering a full heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) package on one of the region’s more logistically challenging sites. Engaged by main contractor Naylor Love under a construct-only contract, Aquaheat was responsible for installing systems to regulate temperature, airflow and overall comfort within the upgraded gondola facilities. The scope also included the controls that manage how the systems operate day to day and respond to changing conditions. While largely out of sight, they are essential to ensuring the building can handle increased visitor numbers while maintaining a consistent indoor environment. The project presented several challenges. With the site set high on a steep alpine site above Queenstown, access is limited to a narrow 4WD road, making it difficult to move materials and equipment, particularly during winter. To work around those constraints, Aquaheat shifted much of the build offsite. Key components were assembled in advance, then transported up the hill and installed, reducing time spent in exposed conditions. Digital modelling was also used to map systems before installation, helping coordinate with other trades and avoid clashes. Planning extended to procurement, with long-lead items secured early to avoid delays and keep the project on track. Led by project manager Mike Hughes and site manager Tom Keaney, the team worked alongside other contractors to deliver the systems safely and to programme. Despite the demanding conditions, the installation has remained on time and on budget - a result the company attributes to early planning, coordination and a practical approach. Aquaheat is a New Zealand-owned mechanical services contractor and part of the Horizon Energy Group, with teams operating nationwide. The business works across the full lifecycle of building services, from design and installation through to maintenance, supporting commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects. That end-to-end capability allows projects to be carried through from planning to long-term operation, with a focus on performance, energy efficiency and reliability. The company also emphasises coordination with other trades, recognising mechanical systems are closely tied to how a building functions. With a nationwide workforce and decades of experience, Aquaheat has built a track record delivering complex projects in challenging environments. The Skyline redevelopment highlights that capability, where planning, coordination and logistics have been critical to delivering a technically demanding project in a constrained alpine setting.
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