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The proposed catamaran, ATV and monorail route linking Queenstown and Te Anau. Graphic from 'ODT'. |
The proponent of the proposed $250 millon monorail project
linking Queenstown and Te Anau is vowing the company will
become Te Anau's biggest promoter.
Riverstone Holdings chief executive Bob Robertson, of Wanaka,
believed the monorail, 16 years in the planning, would lift
local tourism and the area's economy.
"I think Te Anau locals will probably think it might be
negative for them because people are currently travelling
through Te Anau."
One of the biggest criticisms of the Milford Dart Tunnel
proposed last month was Te Anau would miss out on potential
visitors, but Mr Robertson said his company would spend about
$5 million a year promoting Te Anau and the "new visitors"
would be stopping there for more than "just a coffee".
"We will spend more than anyone has before on selling the
destination. We will be an investor locally. We would become
the biggest sponsor."
He said the company had put more than $1 million into
Wanaka's economy and he would like to do the same for Te
Anau.
The monorail was part of Riverstone Holdings' visitor
transport package, The Fiordland Link Experience, which would
include a catamaran across Lake Wakatipu, an all-terrain ride
on back-country roads and the 80kmh monorail trip.
The company had a project budget of $175 million to $200
million, with another $50 million for "long-term upgrades"
such as transport facilities running into Te Anau.
If consent was granted, he expected a completion timeframe of
within two years.
Mr Robertson hoped to establish a fund to help finance the
project, with four domestic investors already expressing an
interest in contributing.
"I know if I've got the right economic model... funding is
not an issue."
It was not about shortening the trip from Queenstown to Te
Anau, he said.
"We're not in a hurry. We're not promoting hurry. We are
promoting [an] experience while still delivering a benefit of
speed.
"We will get them there quicker and they will stay longer."
The initial idea came from Malaysia, which was where most of
the rolling stock and electronics would be built, he said.
However, Te Anau's gain could be Kingston's loss, as
travellers choosing the monorail would bypass State Highway
6.
Kingston Community Association chairwoman Annetta Dalziel
said local businesses had already shown some concern.
"To me, it seems a terrible way [to travel]. Just whipping
people here and there and not giving them the time to meet
New Zealanders.
Te Anau Community Board chairman Alistair Jukes, opposed to
the Milford Dart Tunnel, said yesterday the monorail was "not
as bad".
"It's certainly got its merits. I'm not really in opposition
to it."
Southland District Council mayor Frana Cardno said both the
monorail and Milford Dart Tunnel were "all about getting to
Milford faster".
"New Zealand tourism talks about quality tourism. Is this
what we call quality tourism? "
The Department of Conservation had yesterday received 61
submissions for the the Milford Dart Tunnel with submissions
closing in January.
Mr Jukes said the Te Anau Community Board would be submitting
against the Milford Dart Tunnel.
Public submissions on the monorail will close in February.
- olivia.caldwell@odt.co.nz
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