Three companies have been ordered to pay a combined total of more than $500,000 for their role in a landslip that caused evacuations and property damage in Queenstown last September.
Queenstown Landslip: Companies Fined
Skyline Enterprises, Naylor Love Central Otago Limited and Wilsons Contractors Limited each pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Queenstown-Lakes District Council (QLDC) for breaches of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The landslip occurred on September 22, 2023, following torrential rain, sending debris down Bob’s Peak and inundating Reavers Lane. Forty-one residents were evacuated, and ten homes were red-stickered while two received yellow stickers.
The court heard the breaches related to the management, placement, and size of an excavated stockpile during earthworks commissioned by Skyline at Bob’s Peak. Naylor Love, which sub-contracted Wilsons to manage the stockpile, was identified as the most culpable party.
Judge John Hasson stated the offenses were driven by “commercial imperatives” as contractors rushed to complete work on time. He added that the companies prioritized commercial expediency over the safety of the Queenstown community, calling it “appalling.”
A victim impact statement from Reavers Lane resident Sonja Beattie detailed the damage to her property and the ongoing anxiety caused by the risk of future landslides. Beattie reported property devaluation and concerns about the safety of her home during heavy rainfall.
Skyline Enterprises was fined $130,000, Naylor Love $154,000, and Wilsons Contractors $61,600. Additionally, all three companies will cover over $200,000 in costs incurred by the QLDC – Skyline ($78,300), Naylor Love ($88,400), and Wilsons ($34,000). The companies will also pay a total of $12,000 in emotional reparation to Beattie.
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