The state highway between Whataroa and Harihari, which was washed out by slips and washouts
in last week’s storm, reopens today.
Now Development West Coast is looking at developing a foreign visitor evacuation programme to give booking agents and tourists a greater level of confidence in future major weather events.
Fox Glacier Guiding Company chief executive, Rob Jewell, said the Coast had had a bit of practice evacuating stranded tourists over the past few years and the most important dynamic was co-ordinated communications from stakeholders.
He praised Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and its contractors, for doing a "marvellous job" in reinstating the road on Mount Hercules.
"It’s absolutely fantastic. I take my hat off to them.
"Friday’s opening is the best early Christmas present we could hope for."
Development West Coast regional tourism manager Jim Little estimated December, which had been shaping up to be very busy, would have the worst of it. Promoting the message that most of the Coast was open had little impact if tourists could not drive its full length, he said.
The region had a lot to do to rebuild its reputation and demonstrate resilience for repairs, he said.
Destination Westland chief executive, Melanie Anderson, said the organisation was getting the word out about what was on offer.
However, she had heard tourism operators had received cancellations for as far forward as March, after the recent storm.
Rick Fennell, of Ross Goldfields Heritage and Information Centre, said towns up and down the Coast were feeling the pain.
The road closure had hit the small community’s shop, hotel and accommodation businesses hard and the Roddy Nugget Cafe had shut its doors for the duration of the road closure, he said.
Whataroa’s Fiona Deans said people were "just getting on".
Supplies were being sent up through Fox and Franz Josef and southern milk tankers had been servicing the region’s 40-plus dairy farmers for the past few days.
"The sun is shining. Nothing much has changed."
Glacier Country Tourism Group chairman Ashley Cassin said Franz Josef was very quiet.
"The obstacle for people getting here makes us the longest cul-de-sac in the world. People are not necessarily wanting to drive all the way up here, then turn around and drive back."
The state highway closure was yet another blow for Fox, following August’s indefinite closure of the Fox Valley access road, after it was destroyed in March. — Greymouth Star
- Helen Murdoch
