AV gas accident

The Crown Range Road was closed this morning after an aviation fuel (av gas) spill, resulting from an accident, Queenstown Lakes District Council communications manager Meaghan Miller said.

“At approximately 6.30am a ute towing a trailer was descending the zig zag section on the Queenstown side of the alpine road when the trailer separated from the vehicle,” she said.

The mini-tanker crashed onto the road below at a hairpin corner at the top of the zig zag.
“The 1300 litre tanker has split open allowing av gas to spill onto the road. Because of the highly flammable nature of the gas, the road had to be closed to all traffic,” Ms Miller said.

The Arrowtown Voluntary Fire Brigade responded as did council roading contractors, Downer EDI and the QLDC pollution response unit. A temporary channel was put in place to guide the spill to bare land. The spill was then gritted and foam applied.
“At 9.30am a helicopter attended and lifted the tanker to the roadside where the pollution response team and the brigade were able to contain any further spill,” she said.
The remainder of the fuel, approximately 700 litres was safely removed from the tanker and a mop up of the road carried out before it reopened at 11am.

“The police have advised that they will be investigating the incident and that both the vehicle and trailer will be further inspected. The council will be assessing the cost of the clean up next week,” she said.

With no immediate waterway in the vicinity and the early containment of the spill, the environmental impact was thought to have been minimal.

“Full credit for the quick actions of the voluntary brigade, who were first on the scene and council staff and contractors,” Ms Miller said.

Crown Range closures require traffic to take a detour via Cromwell, through the Kawarau Gorge adding an extra 20 minutes to the trip from Wanaka to Queenstown.