Minister of Transport
Annette King made the long journey from the Beehive to Te
Anau yesterday to celebrate an avalanche control programme
that both saves lives and keeps one of this country's busiest
tourist routes open.
It has been 25 years since the death of a Te Anau road worker
prompted the development of the Milford Road Avalanche
Programme, which keeps State Highway 94, between Te Anau and
Milford open all year round.
Mrs King unveiled a plaque commemorating the programme's
achievements.
The plaque, which is attached to a 3-tonne stone, will be
installed in the Monkey Creek rest area at the start of the
highway's 17km avalanche zone.
"It [the programme] has reduced highway closures and provided
a much safer driving experience," she said.
The avalanche control system, which costs more than $1
million a year to operate, uses state of the art technology
developed locally and in conjunction with the MetService and
Transit New Zealand.
The programme was first begun in the 1970s but was further
developed by Te Anau resident and avalanche control manager
Wayne Carran after the death of a friend while he was
clearing debris.
He vowed the tragedy would not be repeated and instigated
better communication units and the development of technology
to better monitor what was happening in the icepacks on the
high mountain slopes.
Downer EDI Works Te Anau manager Ann Carran said despite the
improved technology, the people who worked for the programme
were its backbone.
"They don't mind when we call them out in the middle of the
night - they are the strength of it."
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