A collapsed bank, during the last few days of work on the Queenstown CBD ring main contract, was behind an unexpected burst main, contractor Ferguson Civil said today.

"In the course of work being undertaken by us, a bank has collapsed causing the water main to fracture," Ferguson Civil spokesman Chris Peters said.

Queenstown Lakes District Council maintenance contractor Lakes Contract Services was called to the Ferguson site on Tuesday evening after a leaking pipe was detected.

"In their capacity as Council maintenance contractor they affected a repair to the pipe and advised us of what had transpired," Ferguson Civil spokesman Chris Peters said.

Ferguson had already taken a decision to replace and extend the pipe.

"We were literally on our way to the job with new pipes and fittings the next morning but meanwhile a new leak had been detected. The Council was called again and Lakes Contract Services called in again in their maintenance capacity," Mr Peters said.

The new leak was inspected and in light of the fact that the contractor, Fergusons was on the way to repair the job, a decision was taken to allow water to continue be provided to the two hotels on the main, in the interim, rather than disrupt hundreds of hotel guests Meanwhile, the main unexpectedly burst.

"When you are working on difficult ground with brittle old pipes, there is a risk that these things can happen. Since March we have managed to conduct the entire ring main upgrade with very few problems," Mr Peters said. The timely response by Lakes Contract Services was to be praised as the situation had potential to be worse, had they (LCS) not assisted.

The new pipe was duly fitted and the main turned back on within four hours. The ring main contract is scheduled to be completed in the next week.

ENDS

For further Chris Peters 021 680 276

By: Kiri