Gas Leak on Ponsonby and Pollen Interrupts Diners

At around 7:30 last night, Thursday 22nd, staff at the International Food Court on Ponsonby Road began smelling gas. By 8pm, the building's fire alarm had alerted the Fire Department, and Firemen had begun to evacuate the building and surrounding area. This action caused a relatively small interruption to diners and bar patrons, and also stopped traffic for a short while, and diverted bus routes.

It is believed to have been an accident relating to long term Auckland City Council action involving the gas main on the corner of Posonby Road and Pollen St.

By 9pm, gas contractors Vector had established the cause of the major problem, and had decided on a plan of action. Unfortunately for workers in the food court and other parked near by, this meant an extension to the exclusion zone, and further delay before they could return home.
As one Fire Department liaison explained, this was because the problem had to be "made worse" before it could be fixed entirely.

However, speaking to the owner of the Food Court, Gigi van Kuijk, it became clear that this issue was not only an emergency in the  short term, but in fact stemmed from a site of long term activity, over the past thirteen months, on behalf of the Auckland City Council.

She explained that the gas line fault had been known for over a year, and the solution had been explained to her as a "3 week job". Unfortunately, Ms van Kuijk had been notified that a protected tree on the corner in question had delayed any City works. It is unclear if that tree had been the sole factor in the delay of works, but it was certainly the view of Ms van Kuijk that without the delay, she and her staff would not have been faced with the emergency tonight, as it should have already been fixed.

Posonby Road Fire Station Officer, Martin Campbell confirmed that the site had been being worked on for a long period of time, but at the time of the incident there were no contractors at the site. Instead of human error, Mr Campbell commented that it was simply a piece of old or faulty equipment that had given way at this time. Mr Campbell confirmed that 20 Firefighters, including support staff had attended the incident this evening.

There were no casualties or reported injuries at the scene.