Gas restored to many central Wellington streets

Business owners in central Wellington have been warned they need to be on site today if they want to have their gas reconnected by the start of the week.

Gas utility Powerco said buildings in and around Manners Mall and Courtenay Place were being reconnected to the network one by one, and the number of people working on the problem had been boosted to 120.

Gas has been cut to about 1000 central Wellington businesses since Wednesday, forcing some to close, restaurants to downsize menus and hotels to shift guests.

A blast of water and gravel from a burst water main into the gas network caused the problem.

Powerco network service delivery manager Stephen Nicholls said the company had two key priorities -- to ensure the network was safe and secure, and to restore the supply to affected properties as quickly as possible.

Nitrogen gas was being pumped through to clear networks in other areas where gas was not currently flowing, he said.

At the other end of the city Powerco has also reconnected the Backbencher hotel.

"These first connections have significantly buoyed the spirits of the men and women now working around the clock to bring the network back to full service and we will push on reconnecting as many of the buildings, particularly in the southern end of the affected area, as we can today," he said.

Beside Courtenay Place, gas is currently flowing in Blair, Dixon, Manners and Cable Sts.

Gas retailers were being provided with updated lists of streets as the restoration continued, and customers should deal directly with their retailers, he said.

Mr Nicholls said customers would need to ensure someone was on site to have their building recommissioned to allow access for gas fitters and for safety reasons.

Some sites had been missed out over the weekend, as gas fitters had been unable to enter the buildings, he said.

- NZPA