Press Releases

31 March 2008 - 4.15pm The official open day of the $18.1 million Queenstown Aquatic Centre has been confirmed. "I am delighted to announce that the pool will be open for business on Saturday, May 31," Lakes Leisure Limited CEO Roger Coleman said. Levels of interest in the facility have soared in...Read More

28 March 2008 A detour will be in place on the Frankton Track for 2-3 days next week (April 1-3) so that an upgrade to a waste water main pipeline can be investigated. "We will be looking at an upgrade in the near future but it's critical at this stage that we undertake a geotechnical investigatio...Read More

The vegetation fire burning 25km south of Queenstown over the last six days now appears to be out, QLDC principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said. "Nature has been kind to us and the area received a good soaking of rain overnight," Mr Bailey said. Thermal imaging equipment was flown over most ...Read More

"In the night there were some small flare-ups and we will be concentrating on hot spots this morning," Mr Bailey said. The Glenorchy volunteer rural fire service kept watch on the scene overnight and this morning at 8am six helicopters were deployed to deal with hotspots and further dousing of the ...Read More

At 8pm this evening the vegetation fire burning 25km south of Queenstown was under control, QLDC principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said. "We have now contained the fire and a reconnaissance at 7.30pm confirmed we have only a few 'smokers' right at the top (Hector Mountains)," Mr Bailey said....Read More

At 5pm this evening the vegetation fire burning 25km south of Queenstown appeared to be back under control, QLDC principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said. "The report is a bit more positive, we have now extinguished the flames and contained the spread," Mr Bailey said. From first light nine h...Read More

Stage one of the Gorge Road upgrade will get underway in earnest after Easter, Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee chairman John Mann said. "The first part of the upgrade will cover an area of 400 metres, prior to winter and 1.2 kilometres, after winter," Mr Mann said. The upgrade...Read More

20 March 2008 - 2pm As of midday today the vegetation fire burning 25km south of Queenstown continued to be 'well involved' on the southern fire-front, QLDC principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said. "With south westerly winds forecast for later today we have taken the decision to bring in add...Read More

20 March 2008 A vegetation fire burning 25km south of Queenstown is now believed to have burned in excess of 1000 hectares. "Our intention is to get on top of this fire this morning," QLDC principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said. Over 70 people were involved in this morning's operation incl...Read More

19 March 2008 At 7pm tonight the Kingston state highway fire, which was first detected on Sunday had burned an area of approximately 700 hectares. "The fire is continuing to burn in the direction of the Hector Range and has now entered into the Central Otago District," Queenstown Lakes District Co...Read More