Cardrona forced to close to oxidisation ponds

Cardrona skifield will take a big financial hit after shutting down today because its oxidisation ponds need emptying.

The skifield's sales and marketing manager Nadia Ellis yesterday said the combination of bumper crowds using more water than ever before, and snow-melt caused by warm weather prompted the shutdown, which will last at least two days. "We'll be trucking out grey water from the sewerage ponds over the next couple of days," she said.

Exactly how long the closure would last was unknown.

"We'll have a much better idea once the trucks get up here and start pumping."

A "significant" cost to the skifield company would be incurred by emptying the pond and having to close during peak season was a blow, Ms Ellis said.

"It's a massive disappointment because the snow is awesome up here at the moment. But our biggest priority is looking after the environment and public health, and we just can't risk the pond overflowing."

Cardrona is the venue for next year's Winter Games. Ski field management had made it a top priority to enlarge the oxidation pond this summer. "We've outgrown it," Ms Ellis said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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