10 Aug 2015

Geothermal bore steams up Rotorua CBD

6:38 pm on 10 August 2015

Work will continue tomorrow to fix a geothermal bore that blew its top in Rotorua's CBD, sending plumes of water into the air.

The bore after its initial blow-out on Sunday, which sent plumes of water into the air.

The bore after its initial blow-out on Sunday, which sent plumes of water into the air. Photo: Rotorua Lakes Council

The old bore exploded in an alleyway yesterday afternoon but council contractors have run out of daylight to fix it.

Rotorua Lakes Council general inspector of geothermal Peter Brownbridge said workers started to contain it today by pouring in water and preparing to seal the bore with cement.

A digger clears the area around the bore, after water has been pumped down it.

A digger clears the area around the bore, after water has been pumped down it. Photo: Rotorua Lakes Council

Mr Brownbridge said, while it was not unusual for a bore to burst, it had been drawing crowds.

"We seem to get a couple of these each year. An old bore comes to life that's been buried and forgotten about," he said.

"We've had a lot of people down looking. We've had a few, unfortunately, just come past the tapes. We do have machinery and water and various hazards there."

Contractors for the Rotorua Lakes Council had expected to contain the bore today, but a spokesperson said it needed time to cool before being sealed with cement.

In the meantime, the area around the bore has been fenced off for public safety.

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