Relieved locals celebrate small-town triumph

A small community wearing a uniform of victory raised their glasses many times yesterday, proclaiming a win over ''big business'' and a proposal which had consumed much of their lives for the past 18 months.

But for all the celebrating, they made it clear their voices in opposition would again be heard if the proposal was resurrected.

When news the proposal had been declined made it from Wellington to the small village of Glenorchy at the top of Lake Wakatipu, screams and yells filled the normally peaceful landscape. Locals smiled and shed tears of joy. The news travelled fast and people came into the Glenorchy village lodge to congratulate each other and marvel in what they felt was a true small-town triumph.

• No to bus tunnel plan... 

With the exception of ''one or two people'', Glenorchy residents decided they were opposed to an 11.3km bus tunnel between the Dart and Hollyford Valleys and it was then only right to band together under the banner of Stop the Tunnel.

we are not going to go away,'' Ms Anderson said.

''We hope that they will do the wise thing and turn their attention to something else and leave our national parks.''