'Huge blow' if status lost

Frana Cardno
Frana Cardno
Losing World Heritage status as a possible consequence of the proposed Fiordland monorail would be a "huge blow for us all" , tourism operator Real Journeys said in a submission at the first day of a hearing in Te Anau yesterday.

The hearing into Riverstone Holdings Ltd's application to build a $150 million, 43km monorail from the Mavora River to Milford Rd continues before Graeme Ayres today in Invercargill.

Removing more than 19,000 trees, with the associated damage to ecosystems, could threaten the integrity of the World Heritage Area, and mean the status was revoked, Real Journeys concessions and consents manager Fiona Black said in the submission.

The company also took issue with the "underlying concept" that visitor arrivals to Milford Sound needed to be "fixed".

The monorail would not address the issue of the middle-of-the-day peak, it said.

The proposed route would significantly reduce views of Lake Te Anau, a key scenic feature of a trip to Milford.

Improving tourism in Milford should be achieved through managing visitor arrivals and sensible use of Milford Rd, not building new infrastructure, the submission said.

Southland Mayor Frana Cardno, who also spoke to her personal submission, said there was "no mandate" for the proposal, in light of recent public feedback on the Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park management plans.

"To me, the ability to visit a special part of Fiordland which is quiet, abundant in birdlife, accessible to families and walkers of all abilities, is a special privilege which my family and I have treasured for a generation ..."

The Southland District Council would give its submission today in Invercargill.

Te Anau geologists Alessandra Mennegatti and Christoph Zink warned in their joint submission the monorail would be "right in the middle" of an area of "huge seismic risk".

"I leave it up to you to imagine what impact such a quake [magnitude 8 or more], causing some 8m of lateral and 2m of vertical offset, would have on a monorail track, if it occurred in the vicinity of Milford."

The pair said they enjoyed Fiordland because, unlike scenic areas in Europe, it was not over-developed.

"By granting consent, you would also set a precedent for further unnecessary developments that have nothing to do with sustainability and conservation."

Dr Mennegatti and Dr Zink, who did not speak to their submission, were among 288 submitters to oppose the venture.

Twenty-seven submissions were in support.

The hearing chairman, Mr Ayres, would summarise submissions and make a recommendation to a decision-maker who would be a representative of Conservation Minister KateWilkinson, a statement from the Department of Conservation said.

 

 


Fiordland monorail

 

• Public hearings began in Te Anau yesterday on Riverstone Holdings Ltd's application to the Department of Conservation for a concession to operate a 29.5km monorail from the Mararoa River to the Milford-Te Anau Rd.

• Doc has given preliminary approval to the $250 million project, subject to conditions.

• A representative of the Minister of Conservation will make the final decision.

• Tourists will be transported from Queenstown by catamaran and all-terrain vehicle to the monorail terminal, then by monorail to Te Anau Downs.

• The proposal has attracted 315 submissions, 27 are in support, 288 opposed.

• Hearings continue in Invercargill today, and resume on April 16 and 17.


 

 

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

 

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