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Bluff residents say a sculpture and visitor centre will draw people to their town.
A 25m tall sculpture visible from the township will be the centrepiece of an $18 million visitor attraction planned for Motupōhue (Bluff Hill).
"It will bring more people to Bluff which is always much needed and it’s better for the whole community and Bluff will keep growing," said Sujan Rathod.
Local Stuart Cooper agreed the project would help attract tourists and that establishing a visitor centre would encourage visitors to stay in town.
"We get the cruise ships but Bluff doesn’t get anything out of it.
"They take them up to the Stirling Point and then they just leave."
The visitor centre would entice tourists "to explore Bluff and stay for a meal".
Foveaux Hotel owner Michael van der Watt believed the sculpture and the visitor centre was great not just for the community but for the visitors that would come into Bluff.
"Time goes by fast. We set up this hotel five years ago and, before you know it, the visitor centre will be here and be part of the community."
Business owner Haylee-Chanel Simeon liked the concept behind the sculpture and the visitor centre but "there were things that needed immediate attention in the community".
"Anything that brings tourism to Bluff is positive but resources could be best used for pressing needs."
Couple David and Melissa Shephard had mixed feelings about the plans.
Mr Shephard thought the "sculpture looked interesting" while Mrs Shephard preferred the building of a motor-home park rather than a visitor centre as "it would provide a place for people to park their caravans and they would stay in town and not just do sight-seeing and leave".
The next step in the plan is to create a business feasibility and fundraising strategy.
A spokesperson from Great South advised that Te Rūnaka o Awarua should be consulted on where funding would come from.
Bluff Community Board chairman Ray Fife was not available to comment.
- By Nina Tapu