But he was delighted at the prospect.
''It's a fantastic idea. It's a major concern. I'd love to see it happen.''
He reported a quiet start to the winter for emergency services looking after travellers on the Lindis Pass road between Omarama and Cromwell.
However, there was a tourist family, with a baby, whose vehicle crashed off the road near the summit. Luckily a local farmer happened to be passing and rescued them.
There was a man who had a stroke.
A Fulton Hogan contractor was able to use his radio telephone to call for help.
Another couple of cars had crashed off the roadbut no injuries resulted.
Mr Walsh said roading contractors, who had done a really good job of keeping the pass open, were the ''lifeline'' for Lindis Pass motorists because they were the only ones with communications systems that could summon help.
