A tunnel linking Routeburn Rd and Hollyford Rd could be
disastrous for the Te Anau economy, a Te Anau business
spokesman said yesterday.
Te Anau Community Board chairman Alistair Jukes told the
Otago Daily Times Milford Dart Ltd's proposal to
construct the $150 million, 11.3km single-lane commercial
coach tunnel was "one of the sillier ideas there's been
around for a long time".
"We've got two tunnels in the [area] that cost an
astronomical amount of money and these people are talking
about building a tunnel for [$150 million].
"They don't know what's under that mountain. Nobody has ever
said what they're going to do with the roads at each end.
"Most people here in Te Anau would rather have a road between
here and Haast than putting a tunnel through."
Mr Jukes said one of the big attractions for visitors to the
area was the scenic drive to Milford, which takes in Te Anau
and the Milford Rd.
"Driving through a tunnel is not going to be a hell of a big
attraction."
The Department of Conservation announced on Thursday it had
agreed in principal to the company's proposal, first mooted
in 2005, and it was now open to public comment.
Mr Jukes said many in Te Anau were in a state of "disbelief"
yesterday.
Few would agree with building a tunnel, he said.
"I think 99% of the town would be dead against it ... it is
going to do absolutely nothing [for Te Anau].
"It would harm the economy - people just wouldn't be here."
The next community board meeting would be held on December
16, but Mr Jukes said the matter "may not be" discussed
"unless somebody wants to put it on the agenda".
Attempts by the ODT to contact Connectabus, which
operates the Milford Sound Select coach trips, Real Journeys,
Kiwi Discoveries and the Barbecue Bus were unsuccessful
yesterday.
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