Fire spreads towards Christchurch Adventure Park on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
Damage to Christchurch's Adventure Park following a fire in the Port Hills is less than first feared.
A large vegetation fire broke out on the hills on Wednesday afternoon. The fire quickly spread and has now covered 650 hectares of land in a 14 kilometre perimeter.
The main fire was around Summit Road and a fire break had been established at Worsley Spur to Dyers Pass Road.
The fire jumped Summit Road on Wednesday night and precautions were being taken at the Adventure Park, including removal of chairlifts.
On Thursday, it was confirmed the fire had breached the park's land but what damage had been done was not clear.
On Friday, the park's chairperson Maurice Noone said staff had been able to inspect it and the damage was not as bad as first thought.
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"The outcome is considerably different to the fires of 2017 and will likely see the park fully re-open with all current attractions within the next few months.
"While it is very early days and a full inspection is still required, the initial impression is that the damage is largely confined to new growth following the 2017 fires and to one area within the park. Pleasingly, the village and its immediate surrounds, the chairlift and the ziplines all appear to have escaped any significant damage."
The park was badly damaged in the 2017 fire - and it took almost a year before it was able to open again.
One person died in that fire, and eleven homes were destroyed.
The 2017 fire badly damaged the park. Photo: RNZ / Joelle Dally
While the park was closed, 240 hectares of burnt forest were logged, the chairlift and four zip lines were replaced, and mountain bike trails rebuilt.
Noone said a full inspection would need to happen for them to determine if there was any other damage to the park caused by the current fire that was not visible yet.
"We are currently working through a process to be able to commence this work once we are granted access back to the park.
"At this time, we do not know when we will get full access back to the park, or how long the inspection processes will take. Indications are that, best case, the park may be able to reopen by Easter, however, that is extremely dependent upon a number of factors beyond the control of the park at this time."
He said he was "very conscious" that the fire was still being extinguished and it would be some time before the park was completely safe to go to.
Noone thanked Fire and Emergency NZ staff and all responders for the work they had done in fighting the fire and keeping properties safe.
"We would also like to thank and acknowledge the numerous messages of support that have been received from the local community and from around the world at this time. This has been hugely appreciated by the staff and all involved."
