Winter Blast Update August 2011

Snow has continued to fall in the Wakatipu Basin throughout the day, with further snow forecast over night. Queenstown police are continuing to urge people to go out only if they are prepared for the conditions.

Chains are still required to travel around the basin, with the Frankton to Kingston state highway and Lindis remaining closed to traffic (reviewed at 3pm). The Kawarau Gorge is now open to vehicle with chains.

Police were assisting contractors with enforcement of chain fitting on the Crown Range and through the Kawarau Gorge, Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander said.

A further 15-20cm of snow is forecast to fall overnight down to 200m. Council contractors are continuing to clear main arterial routes as a priority and would commence footpath clearance this afternoon.

“With these conditions it is likely that some members of our community will hunker down and stay put for several days. Please consider your neighbours, in particular older neighbours. Check they are warm and have food,’ Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Debra Lawson said.

Schools in the area, which closed today, would assess conditions overnight but if snow continued to fall it was unlikely schools would open on time. An update would be posted on school websites and carried on local radio tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile the Queenstown and Wanaka rubbish and recycling collections had been postponed until further notice (the exception being Wanaka recycling which will be collected tomorrow) but all other Council services are as normal.

“Council operates a 24-hour call centre regardless of conditions. It was business as usual today, and that will be our intention tomorrow, although we will assess the situation in the morning,” Ms Lawson said.

Road conditions were being updated on a regular basis via Twitter and Facebook and on the Council website www.qldc.govt.nz