In a statement released yesterday, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said arbitration had been completed between the council, the construction company and the manufacturer. The fast hydroslide - closed in June 2009 after multiple reports of users being injured - was being modified "to cater for a wider demographic of users".
Work on the slide, part of the $18 million Alpine Aqualand development, was expected to be completed by the end of this month and it would be reopened in time for the school holidays in December.
The work would include modifying a "portion" of the exterior of Alpine Aqualand and extending the slide's total length.
Ms van Uden thanked the public for their patience over the past three years.
"It's a positive outcome for the community and great news for all those hydroslide enthusiasts."
No further comment would be made on the matter, she said.
The arbitration process has been ongoing since 2009 between the council, on behalf of Lakes Leisure Ltd; Naylor Love, the building company given the contract to construct the hydroslide; and Timaru manufacturer Aeromarine Industries Ltd, a subcontractor responsible for the design, building and safe operation of the two hydroslides.
The council statement said arbitration had resolved the issue to "everyone's satisfaction".
The cost to the council of the arbitration is expected to be released on Monday.
The fast hydroslide was closed briefly in December 2008 after 69 patrons reported minor injuries.
At the time, then Lakes Leisure aquatics general manager Cam Sheppard said 51 of those incidents had been caused by slide users breaking safety rules: for example, standing up in the slide.
Project manager Ken Gousmett said then the slide would be fixed at "no cost to the public, the council or Alpine Aqualand". The slide was under a full 12-month warranty.
In June 2009, the council closed the slide until "an appropriate solution for safe public use could be identified and implemented" after a woman suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury while using it.
The Department of Labour investigated a complaint laid by the woman, but decided in November 2009 not to prosecute.
In November, Leisure Engineering decided the hydroslide would remain closed until modifications had been made.
How it unfolded
• May 31, 2008: The $18m Alpine Aqualand complex, including slow and fast hydroslides, opens.
• Late December, 2008: Fast hydroslide open only sporadically after revelations 69 users injured since opening day.
• January 23, 2009: Hydroslide resumes normal operations.
• June 12, 2009: Slide closes until safety issues addressed, after another injury.
• December 2012: Slide to be reopened.
