As construction activity accelerates across the Queenstown Lakes District, protecting the region’s iconic waterways has become a top priority for both developers and regulators. One innovation making a real difference on the ground is the FODS Trackout Control System—a reusable, low-maintenance solution helping reduce sediment runoff from active construction sites.
With hundreds of new homes under construction and key roading upgrades underway, the volume of heavy vehicle movement is placing increasing pressure on local roads and stormwater systems. Trackout—the transfer of mud and sediment from site to street—has become a growing environmental concern, particularly in areas close to sensitive natural environments like Lake Wakatipu.
The Otago Regional Council has responded by pushing for more effective sediment control, especially around high-growth areas like Hanley’s Farm—a major residential development near Queenstown.
Benchmark Construction was one of the early adopters of the FODS system in the Queenstown Lakes region, managing multiple access and exit points across the expansive Hanley’s Farm development. They cited a significant reduction in time and resources spent cleaning up debris and sediment trackout, noting the system effectively paid for itself in a very short period. The ability to relocate FODS mats as the site evolved—without the ongoing upkeep required by traditional stabilised entries—made the solution both practical and cost-effective. For Benchmark, FODS proved to be a game changer, offering a smarter, more efficient way to manage one of the most persistent challenges on active construction sites.
Distributed by Rocktec, FODS is now being adopted across a growing number of projects in the region. The system is helping lift environmental standards and improve on-site efficiency for contractors working under tighter regulations and rising public expectations.
With development across the region set to continue, systems like FODS are becoming essential—not just for balancing progress with environmental stewardship, but for setting best practice in the effective management of trackout challenges faced by construction sites every day.