The cause of a minor sewage spill, near the Frankton Track, was unknown, Queenstown Lakes District Council water services manager Garry McGraw said.

The spill has not come from a sewerage network but has entered the area via a stormwater system,’ Mr McGraw said.

Although Council contractors were able to trace the stormwater system to Queenstown Hill, the trail ‘ran dry’.

“There is no reason for this material to be in the stormwater system. It’s possible that we are dealing with material that has been placed down a wrong manhole,’ Mr McGraw said.

The spill, which had not affected Frankton Track - travelling beneath it through a culvert - had ended up on the lakeside of the track.

“In total we are probably looking at a spill of around 1000 litres, with most soaking into gravels on the lake edge and undoubtedly small quantities entering Lake Wakatipu,” Mr McGraw said.

The area was sanitised yesterday and lake water samples taken as a precaution.

“Fortunately what has entered the lake has dissipated,” Mr McGraw said.

The Council intended to further investigate the matter.

ENDS

For further information please contact Garry McGraw 03 441 0499.

By: Kiri