Infrastructure Minister Dr Michelle Haywood has detailed the “challenging” conditions that forced a full airport closure and round-the-clock gritting operations last week.
In response to a question from Jason Moorhouse, the minister explained that snow and hail falling onto frozen surfaces created “hazardous driving conditions,” with gritting teams deployed from 1:30am on Sunday January 4 and working continuously.
Regarding the airport, Dr Haywood said the main challenge was “the combination of these prolonged freezing temperatures, snowfall and periods of freezing precipitation”.
Despite repeated snow clearance and de-icing treatments, “the persistent low temperatures and repeated refreezing meant that safe operating conditions could not be reliably maintained”.
Praising staff efforts, Dr Haywood highlighted that “additional staff volunteered their services to allow gritting operations to continue on shift basis around the clock”.