State of Emergency declared for Queenstown
A state of emergency has been declared for Queenstown as at 6.33am on 22 September, for an initial period of 7 days, as part of the response to the current weather event.
Mayor Glyn Lewers said the declaration was necessary given the considerable rainfall experienced by Queenstown over the last 24 hours.
More than 100 people have been evacuated from their homes in Brecon St area and Reavers Lane area overnight (see maps below for affected areas).
“The current weather event is an active and evolving situation. We have been working with emergency management throughout the night to assess the full extent of the situation in the current conditions.
“Several flooding and debris events have been identified and we’re continuing to contact affected people including evacuating over 100 people. A temporary evacuation centre has been set up at St Peters Church to manage evacuees who have not been able to relocate.
“Please avoid travel through or around the town centre. If travel is essential, then please take extreme care.”
What you need to know:
- Flooding and debris is flowing down Brecon Street towards the town centre, causing damage and requiring evacuations from multiple properties.
- Flooding and debris has also required evacuations from properties on Reavers Lane, Fryer Street and Hamilton Road.
- The affected areas are shown on the maps below.
- Multiple roads are closed throughout the Queenstown Town Centre and around the district. Latest details can be found here.
- Please avoid non-essential travel through or around the town centre. If travel is essential, please take care, follow safety signage or the instructions of traffic management staff.
- Queenstown Primary School, Whakatipu Kindergarten and Queenstown Preschool Nursary will be closed on Friday, 22 September. If you are affected by these closures please contact the education facilities directly.
- Contractors are also responding to a sewerage overflow at the Frankton Track. The track is currently closed, please avoid the area.
More information on evacuations:
- 68 people have been evacuated from the Brecon Street area
- 41 have been evacuated from the Reavers Lane area.
- If you’ve been affected by evacuations, please do not return to your property until you have been advised it is safe to do so. If you have not made contact with the Council, please call customer services on 03 441 0499 as soon as possible.
Road closures
- Cardrona Valley Road remains closed, access to Cardrona from Queenstown side only.
- Fernhill Road remains closed between Sunshine Bay and Fernhill roundabout.
- SH6 Makarora-Haast remains closed.
- SH6 Luggate to Pisa Moorings remains closed.
- Queenstown Airport is open. There is no flooding at the terminal, on the runway or apron, or in the surrounding airport precinct this morning. However, some flights could be affected by weather today. Check the website for info.
General messages
- This is an active and evolving situation.
- It is difficult to assess the full extent of the situation in the current conditions.
- Council staff, contractors and emergency services will further assess damage when conditions allow.
- Rain is forecast to continue and expected to ease on Friday afternoon. This is expected to turn to snow above 600 metres. Heavy snowfall is possible above 800 metres from 12hrs from 6am – 6pm
- There is a road snow warning in place: Snow is expected to lower early Friday morning to about 700 metres. 3 to 5 cm of snow may accumulate near the Crown Range summit during Friday morning and early afternoon, with lesser amounts down to 700 metres.
- Lake Levels are below first warning level. Levels can be monitored here
- Next update expected by 9am.
A landslip at Queenstown Cemetery, off Brecon St. Photo: Fiona Cavanagh
Queenstown Primary School principal Fiona Cavanagh says: "As far as I know, we've had water rushing in from the top gates beside the Kiwi Birdlife Park, right at the back, rushing down to the adventure playground, but apart from that, we're okay.
"The council believe that rain keeps coming, then further slips could happen and the debris could end up in the grounds. So, to be safe, they have advised us that we close."
It's the last day of term for school pupils across Queenstown. "Thank God, for that," Cavanagh says.
The declaration was signed following formal advice from Emergency Management Otago Group Controller Matt Alley.
It enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources, and enact additional powers, to assist those affected.
Council staff and emergency services have been working throughout the night and morning to assess and manage the impacts of the weather event.
For all the latest information, visit https://www.qldc.govt.nz/weather-event-sep23.
