10 July 2008 - 7.00 pm - Released by Otago Regional Council

The subsiding rock above a section of the Shotover River poses danger and the area has been closed to the public until further notice.

John Roberts, DOC Manager of Community Relations said the Department of Conservation in Queenstown has closed tracks providing access to the Shotover River through the Morning Star Recreation Reserve and the Shotover Conservation Area above Shotover Jets operations base at the Edith Cavell bridge. The Oxenbridge Tunnel reserve is also closed until further notice.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Harbour-master Marty Black has closed the Shotover River between Deep Creek and the Oxenbridge tunnel to all water users.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) consultant geologist Royden Thomson has completed an extensive investigation of the subsiding rock from the air and the ground. Mr Thomson said rock on the south face of the Shotover River had fallen overnight and a mass was at risk of collapsing into the river.

Large open joints were appearing in the rock mass and Mr Thomson estimated the rock volume at 30,000 to 50,000 cubic metres but said it could be as high as 100,000 cubic metres.

At this stage, it's not certain whether the rock would collapse into the river as a mass or crumble piecemeal.  The rockfall has the potential to block the Shotover River.

ORC Director of Environmental Engineering and Natural Hazards, Dr Gavin Palmer, said ORC had engaged a survey team that was monitoring the movement of the rockfall site.

QLDC Emergency Management Officer Brenden Winder said commercial tourism operators in the area had been briefed this afternoon and as long as no one entered the area there would be no danger to the public.

For further information contact:

Dr Gavin Palmer, Otago Regional Council,03 474 0827 or 0274 933 960

Brenden Winder, Emergency Management Officer, Queenstown Lakes District Council,
03 441 0499 or 027 230 1266

John Roberts, Dept of Conservation, Programme Manager Community Relations, 03 442 7933

Marty Black, Harbourmaster, Queenstown Lakes District Council, 0274 245 289

By: Tamah