Christchurch gondola set to reopen in March

9:07 pm on 19 February 2013

The operator of the Christchurch gondola says it expects to reopen by the 25 March if work to remove any risk of hazardous rockfall is complete.

The gondola has been closed for repairs for two years after the February 2011 earthquake burst a sprinkler head, causing 60,000 litres of water to flood the top station.

Managing director Michael Esposito says the company is applying to the Christchurch City Council to secure potential rockfall hazards in the area and declare that the gondola is safe to use.

Mr Esposito says before the February quake, the gondola was a popular tourism attraction visited by 150,000 people a year.

However, he says with tourist numbers significantly down, he believes it will take about five years for this sort of figure to be reached again.

The tourism industry is relying on cruise ships visiting the South Island city and a new convention centre.