PHOTO: BARRY HARCOURT
Two meetings in Fiordland this month will give members of the public the opportunity to assess the proposed monorail project from opposing viewpoints.
Takaro Lodge, in conjunction with Destination Fiordland, will host an open picnic day on Sunday, February 19, on its property which backs on to the proposed route. The next day directors from Riverstone Holdings, the company behind the application to build the Fiordland Link Experience combining a catamaran trip across Lake Wakatipu, all terrain vehicle trip from Mount Nicholas Station to Mavora and a monorail trip from there to Te Anau Downs, will present their vision at a public meeting in Te Anau.
The Department of Conservation has signalled its intention to grant a concession for the operation and has called for public submissions which close on March 19.
Takaro Lodge spokeswoman Sarah McCrum said it was crucial that people took the opportunity to learn about the proposal and have their say. Many people did not realise that the monorail route passed through conservation land, some of which was part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. This meant it was internationally recognised as being of “outstanding universal universal value to humanity and as such, has been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy”.
The lodge owners and staff are opposed to the monorail but Ms McCrum said the decision to invite the public was not about “monorail bashing”, but rather to give people a chance to see and experience the area for themselves and appreciate the “intrinsic values” that the Department of Conservation was inviting submissions on.
“I would like people to see the place, feel it, know where it is,” she said. “It’s an incredibly beautiful place. It’s by the river, by the bush and surrounded by mountains and a lot of people have never seen it.”
Takaro Lodge very seldom opens its gates to the public – the last open day was several years ago. While the lodge itself would not be open, Ms McCrum said she hoped the curiosity factor would be a hook to entice people to visit.
Takaro Lodge is about a 40 minute drive from Te Anau, on a gravel road that turns off near the end of Kakapo Road. Signs will direct people to a parking area and from there it would be a walk of about 20 minutes on a formed track to the top of the property. Families were encouraged to bring picnics in backpacks. Anyone with mobility problems was encouraged to phone the lodge before the open day so that transport could be arranged for them, she said.
People were invited to arrive from 11am onwards. Ms McCrum said nature in its untouched form would be the most valuable thing for human beings in the future and Southlanders had an opportunity to protect this unique area from commercial development. But she urged people to come and see it for themselves.
“We have more obligation to take care of nature now than ever before,” she said. “It’s the responsibility of the local community to let DOC know what we want them to do with it.”
The proponents of the monorail have not been formally invited to the public open day but Ms McCrum said they would not be turned away should they decide to come.
Riverstone Holdings director Bob Robertson was not aware of the open day when contacted by the Fiordland Advocate but said he would give consideration to whether it was appropriate to attend. It was not his intention to either cause embarrassment or be embarrassed, he said.
In any case, directors and staff would be in Te Anau on Monday, February 20, for a public meeting being held at the Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas at 4pm. This would be an opportunity for people to come and hear the company’s vision for the project and how it would affect Te Anau and the surrounding landscape. He was aware that there was a lot of strong feeling about the proposal and said the directors were prepared to spend as much time as necessary answering questions and concerns. “People who’ve got a worry should ask,” he said. “I’ll give my answer to them to the best of my ability. “We’ll let people wade into us and we’ll just keep answering the questions for an extended period of time,” he said. The company was concerned at the perception that Fiordland Link was simply a means of speeding up the travel time between Queenstown and Milford Sound. Mr Robertson said he looked forward to the opportunity to explain that Te Anau would be an important destination for the operation and be promoted heavily in international marketing. “This project will be the single most important thing to help Te Anau get over the hump that it’s in.” If weather forces its postponement, the Takaro open day will be held exactly one week later. If in doubt, call the lodge on (03) 249-0161, where a recorded message will advise whether the day is going ahead.