Update From QLDC Regarding Cryptosporidium Outbreak In Queenstown
Here is a summary of today’s key developments:
- QLDC is working to meet the requirements of the compliance order issued by Taumata Arowai yesterday. Officers from Council’s infrastructure team had a constructive meeting with the regulator this morning and continue to engage positively.
- Council has complied with the first milestone of the compliance order by delivering a community engagement plan before 5.00pm today.
- There is no change to the areas of Queenstown/Frankton where residents and businesses need to boil water, nor to the areas where this is not a requirement (Upper Clutha residents and businesses do not need to boil water); see the full list below.
- Case numbers confirmed by NPHS Southern stand at 21 – an increase of four since yesterday; see their media release here.
- QLDC conducted a media stand-up this morning to enable key messages to reach the wider community. This was livestreamed and a recording is available on our website – scroll down to the bottom of this page https://www.qldc.govt.nz/crypto
- A business response group comprising staff from Destination Queenstown and Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce alongside QLDC (first established during the pandemic) met this afternoon; its key role will be to review current information and inform the business community of the most relevant aspects (noting that this information will also be available on the QLDC website)
- The adult spa pool at Alpine Aqualand has been closed as a precaution until further notice while staff review its separate filtration system; this decision was made in line with advice from NPHS Southern.
- Whilst all other pools remain open as
normal, the following preventative measures have been
implemented today at the facility in line with Recreation
Aotearoa’s Cryptosporidium
Protocol For Swimming Pools (noting these measures do
not apply at Wānaka Recreation Centre):
- cancelling learn to swim classes (including school lessons) for under-8s;
- advising parents that although the final decision remains with them, QLDC does not advise under-8s use the pools while there is cryptosporidium in the community;
- similarly advising that pregnant women, immunocompromised people and babies do not use the pool while cryptosporidium is in the community; and
- advising the community in general that if someone with cryptosporidium were to use the pools at Alpine Aqualand that there is a chance that it could infect someone else.
- QLDC has received a number of offers of support from other councils and specialists from around Aotearoa New Zealand for which we’re incredibly grateful.
Areas where people should boil water:
- Queenstown town centre (north along Gorge Rd as far as and including Industrial Place);
- Queenstown Hill;
- Frankton Rd and suburbs on the hill above Frankton Rd;
- Fernhill and Sunshine Bay;
- Frankton including Five Mile, Remarkables Park and Glenda Dr;
- Quail Rise and Tucker Beach Rd;
- Kelvin Heights; and
- Hanley’s Farm.
The notice applies to residential and commercial properties (including accommodation providers) that are connected to a public supply in the locations identified above.
Unaffected areas (no need to boil water):
- Arrowtown;
- Arthurs Point;
- Lake Hayes Estate;
- Shotover Country;
- Upper Clutha; and
- any properties on a private supply (e.g Jacks Point).
Boiling water kills any microorganisms that could be present. In the locations outlined above people are advised to boil all their drinking water for at least one minute (or use bottled water) for the following uses:
- Drinking water – including cold beverages, ice-making and coffee machines.
- Food preparation – including washing uncooked foods such as salad, vegetables, and fruit.
- Preparing baby formula.
- Washing food utensils.
- Brushing teeth.
- Pets.