Shotover bridge - minor leak

The ongoing replacement of an aging sewer main across the Shotover Bridge struck a minor glitch today with a further pipe failure, possibly due to colder temperatures, Queenstown Lakes District Council acting water services manager John Porter said.

A leak was detected earlier this year on the aging pipe, encased in the structure of the bridge and a pump system was implemented until such time as the scheduled replacement pipe could be installed.

“We hope to be in a position by the end of next week where we will no longer have to use the old pipeline and we had been dealing with the leak with the use of a pump system to contain any spillage,” Mr Porter said.

Unfortunately at some point today the leakage had increased and the pump failed and a small amount of spillage occurred onto the beach area below the bridge (approximately 100 litres).

“We were able to work quickly to contain and sanitise the spill area, which has now been temporarily fenced off,” Mr Porter said.

A replacement pump had been sourced and would be implemented tomorrow morning. Local Arrowtown fire brigade members would assist with the installation.

Meanwhile a section of road giving access to the bridge would be temporarily reduced to one lane traffic tomorrow morning to enable preliminary work for the new pipe connection to be carried out.