Hydro slide shut for safety checks following earthquake

Queenstown’s Alpine Aqualand has temporarily closed its operating hydro slide following Wednesday night’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

“We have taken the precautionary step of closing the slide to check for any damage to the fibreglass structure” said Lakes Leisure Facilities Manager Cam Sheppard. “Some small cracks have appeared on the inner tube and we need to ascertain whether the quake has caused structural damage.”

The quake hit outside of operating hours but Mr Sheppard immediately checked on the aquatic centre and was present to catch the second quake as it shook the various pools in Alpine Aqualand “There was definitely significant motion in the Leisure Pool although not quite enough to rename it a wave pool”.

The closure is part of standard earthquake procedures. Engineering company Aeromarine, from Timaru, will be travelling to Queenstown on Friday to ensure that a thorough examination is carried out.

“While this closure creates a disruption to daily slide operations, the continued health and wellbeing of Aqualand customers is the main focus and we need to have the slide checked thoroughly” said Lakes Leisure CEO Fiona McKissock.

Meanwhile, all other facilities at the aquatic centre are operating as usual.