Photo: RNZWestland Mayor Bruce Smith says a huge slip that has cut off his district could have a bigger economic impact than the washout of the Waiho Bridge earlier this year. But access from the north would take much longer, because a large section of Mt Hercules had come down onto State Highway 6, south of Hari Hari. "Wanaka to Franz will be open very quickly as will Hokitika to Hari Hari. The piece in the middle is Mt Hercules and all I can say is looking at the photos, this is a bigger problem than the Waiho bridge." But Fox Glacier could be reliant on emergency generator power for some time after powerlines were brought down due to the slip at Mt Hercules.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 08, 2019 01:52 UTC