Trapped after water main flood
People were trapped in their homes in Queenstown yesterday after a burst water main shunted cars across a road and flooded a hotel.
Phil Smyth said he was stuck in a home he was renovating in Glasgow St, along with several tradespeople, as emergency services kept roads in the affected area blocked.
Contractors were still working late yesterday to clear the roads after the water main burst in Thompson St about 10.40am.
‘‘I can’t believe we’re stuck . . . they have no idea when it’s going to be cleared,’’ Smyth said.
People could walk in and out of the area but the roads remained closed.
A neighbour who had just been discharged from hospital after hip surgery was stuck on the other side of the road closures and unable to get to her home, Smyth said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said two crews were called to the Hotel St Moritz, in Brunswick St, as the burst water main flooded the area.
Queenstown Fire Brigade deputy chief Bobby Lamont said a large amount of gravel was brought down and pushed three cars to the other side of the road.
Water had blocked the entrance to the hotel and a large amount had gone into the lower levels of the car park.
‘‘It’s gone right down into their bottom level . . . but it is slowly draining out through their stormwater system.’’
Lamont said a lot of water had flowed toward houses below the hotel. He thought there would be some damage but the homes had not yet been inspected.
St Moritz Queenstown Hotel general manager Jo Finnigan said the damage to the hotel was cosmetic.
‘‘At one stage, we were ferrying guests on luggage trolleys through the flood to keep them dry. Not a great day to be wearing white pants,’’ she said.
A Queenstown Lakes District Council spokesman said a contractor had hit the 300 to 400-millimetre water main pipe.
‘‘Unfortunately, some debris has entered the lake – this has been contained and a cleanup is under way.
‘‘The water was shut off in time to reduce the effect on the reservoir, meaning residents in the immediate area and town centre will still have access to water.’’
Council contractors were urgently working to repair the main and dealing with any residents or affected businesses, the spokesman said.