By Leanne Malcolm
New Zealanders are being urged to protest plans to build a 150 million dollar tunnel through the Fiordland and Aspiring National Parks.
DOC has given approval in principle to the proposed Milford Dart Tunnel which will drastically cut tourist travelling times between Queenstown and Milford but opposition is mounting, including from the Southland Mayor Frana Cardno.
Te Anau looked to be brooding today about the tunnel plans which locals worry will mean an end to the huge number of visitors - up to 500 thousand - who pass through each year on their way to Milford Sound.
You open up a tunnel which is all about getting tourists to New Zealand quicker so they can leave it quicker .. that's not the type of strategy we want for New Zealand tourists,” says Frana Cardno.
If it gets approval, the 11.3 km tunnel will link the existing Routeburn Road to the Hollyford Road reducing the return trip from Queenstown to Milford from 9 to 4 hours.
But the man whose company is behind the scheme, Tom Elworthy, says it is not anti Te Anau because tourists will have more time in the Milford area and spend more money while there.
“Ten hours on a bus is not a viable proposition to put our visitors through, we need to get on and lift our game and get our main tourism asset sorted out,” says Mr Elworthy.
As well as Te Anau residents, Mr Elworthy is also up against opposition from those who enjoy the environment - .the Federated Mountain Clubs calls the plan desecration.
“The reason people come to our national parks, and come from thousands of miles away, is because they are wild and unspoilt. Putting a bus tunnel through it is just crazy,” Richard Davies from the Federated Mountain Clubs says.
Tourists that 3 News spoke to weren’t sold on the tunnel option either.
“We've had such a good experience - vast and open spaces we never see at home.. I don't think you'd want to give that up,” an American couple told 3 News. “Take your time, go the long way.”
But Elworthy says the Department of Conservation agrees with the plan, with appropriate conditions.
Although the tunnel is a step closer to being realised it still has to get resource consent approval from Queenstown and Southland councils and the people we spoke to in Te Anau today are adamant it wont go through without a fight.
3 News