Franz Josef Glacier business owners fear the town will become derelict and an eyesore after a council ruling yesterday preventing development in a swathe through the middle of the towns, closest to the Alpine Fault.
"It's not about driving people out of town," Westland Mayor Mike Havill said this morning.
A "fault rupture avoidance zone" was proposed by the Westland District Council and authorised yesterday by independent commissioners.
The avoidance zone will severely restrict development on either side of the faultline, which runs through the middle of the main street and business area -- including the forecourt of the service station and beneath the police station.
Business owners and homeowners within the zone, up to 200m wide, will be allowed to stay but will not be able to extend or change their buildings.
Rangi Tinirau has lived in the same house in Cron Street, parallel to the State highway, since 1964.
A former long-time mountain guide, he questions where exactly the faultline lies and believes the nearby Waiho (Waiau) River poses a greater risk to the town.
"Our home here needs to be redecorated but we can't do a damn thing about it," Mr Tinirau said today.
"Even if we want to put in a shed, they won't let us."
But only 400m or 500m down the road, outside the zone, new buildings were going up.
"It's just humbug. It won't be the faultline but the river that takes people out, and [the Waiho River] will go where the new buildings are."
The police station is also affected but West Coast area commander Inspector John Canning said nothing would change there for now.
"We are down there very close to the fault. We would get resources there pretty quickly if something happened," Mr Canning said.
As town plans progressed, police may take action, he said.
Other businesses were quick to assure it was business as usual this morning, but many managers were reluctant to comment. The petrol station referred inquiries to Craig Ranking, chairman of the business group Franz Inc.
Mr Rankin said they were concerned businesses along the zone would stop maintaining their buildings, and others would close or move, leaving a strip that could become an eyesore.
"As businesses move, that will leave nothing."
Tourism numbers were up and businesses should be talking about growing, "not this".
It was going to be tough for people to watch the value of their homes and business go down by a huge amount, he said.
Asked if the council would go to Wellington to discuss compensation for the 32 affected landowners, for properties with a collective value of $22.8 million, Mr Havill it would definitely be talking to people.
It was also setting up a working group with the West Coast Regional Council and Franz residents.
However, people could "certainly stay there and continue their businesses. It's not about driving people out of town. We need a plan for the future."
However, the council could not consent buildings on top of the faultline, he said, backing an "orderly transition".
Commissioners recommended the council "actively pursue the strategic planning for the Franz Josef settlement, including matters of possible relocation and financial assistance, in consultation with the community, so can be clearly seen to be the first necessary step in a package of measures to manage the risk of fault rupture in the affected areas".
The proposed zone crosses properties owned by 32 private landowners. The total capital value of the privately-owned properties impacted in some way have until June 30 to appeal the decision to the Environment Court.
- Laura Mills of the Greymouth Star
