Queenstown-Te Anau monorail input sought

A proposal for a monorail link between Queenstown and Te Anau will be opened for public submissions less than a month after the controversial Milford Dart Tunnel was announced.

If approved, a 43km monorail would be the longest in the world, its proponent said.

The Department of Conservation (Doc) will tomorrow open public submissions on the proposed monorail to run from the Mavora River to the Milford Rd at Te Anau, essentially cutting out Kingston and Lumsden.

The monorail was part of Riverstone Holding's visitor transport package The Fiordland Link Experience, which would include a catamaran across Lake Wakatipu, an all-terrain ride on backcountry roads and the monorail trip.

Chief executive Bob Robertson said the monorail was "absolutely" in direct competition to the $150 million Milford Dart Tunnel, which raised ire last month when that proposal was opened for submissions.

Mr Robertson said it was unlikely both would be approved.

"This is something that has been 16 years in planning and not five.

"It is difficult for them both to go through," he said.

Although the proposed monorail would halve travel time to Te Anau from Queenstown, Mr Robertson said saving time was not their objective. It was about "creating a world-class experience" for tourists.

"The problem is that you spend almost 10 hours on a bus, mainly travelling through farmland, for just two hours at the destination.

"Most visitors find the journey arduous and they sleep through it."

The tourism industry badly needed the investment, as it was well known the Milford Sound experience was "becoming a bit tired and certainly needs refreshing", he said.

If the proposal went ahead, it would be the longest monorail journey in the world and it would make a "significant impact on the local economy", he said.

Doc Southland conservator Barry Hanson said Riverstone had made an assessment of the proposal and agreed to minimise any environmental impacts.

The proposal involved building a mountain bike track open for public use.

Mr Robertson said the track was the kind of experience the Government had envisaged in its "long-term visitor strategy".

"New Zealand needs several of these large initiatives to gain back our status as a leading tourist destination.

"We can no longer just rely on our fantastic scenery."

Construction of the monorail would require the clearance of 4.57ha, including .22ha of forest habitat, through the Snowdon Forest Stewardship area.

Mr Hanson said Doc would take into account the outcome of public consultation, which would run for 40 days from tomorrow.

A proposal for a 12.6km, $100 million gondola between Glenorchy and Lake Gunn on Milford Rd has fallen by the wayside.