The Department of Conservation (Doc) announced work would start this week on construction of the platform.
But Stewart Island resident and tourism operator Furhanna Ahmad said she was disappointed to hear construction would go ahead.
She believed Doc’s community consultation and liaison processes were lacking.
Some of the island’s community were feeling railroaded by the decision because Doc chose to only communicate with a select few of the "stakeholder" residents.
"There’s absolutely zero consideration for the residents around Observation Rock — there’s no pavements, the road is adjacent to people’s houses, things have not been taken into full account," she said.
She believed the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation should look more carefully at where money was being invested.
"Doc got their way ... but it’s left a huge amount of bad taste here in the community."
It had also led to questions about how decisions are made "on behalf of the so-called community ... the fact that a lot of us here in the community feel that we are completely irrelevant".
"The most important thing for us to note here is that the community has only a tiny fraction of Stewart Island in which to live and feel like they have some control over their surroundings. Doc has effectively taken that away from them."
A public protest, numbering about 20 residents, in the form of a sit-in was held in September last year and an online petition gained 168 signatures from around the world opposing the construction.
Platform proposals had been submitted in the past but were subsequently quashed, citing the changes as unwanted or needed.
Doc Rakiura operations manager Alex Macleod said the upgrades would improve the visitor experience as well as safety from a popular viewpoint. It had a budget of $324,000.
"Observation Rock has provided an informal viewing platform for many years, with an informal track and viewing area pre-dating Doc. The site provides phenomenal views across to Ulva Island and the south of Rakiura," Mr Macleod said.
The track to the area will be closed to the public for four to eight weeks while the work is carried out.
The site’s elevation had made it a popular viewing area for many years. The land was levelled in the 1990s to improve the site.
The island has been recognised as one of only five International Dark Sky Sanctuaries and the platform aims to provide a safe viewing area.
Southland district councillor Jon Spraggon said he was delighted the project was finally under way.
"I’m fully in support of it."
The representative of the local iwi had visited the site recently and commented to Cr Spraggon about the safety issue for people visiting the area at night.
"Once something is identified as being a health and safety risk, you can’t ignore it.
The platform was initially suggested by the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board as a safety solution to the unprotected edge at the site. Since the idea was raised, there had been a steady increase in stargazing visitors to the area between dusk and dawn.
By Toni McDonald
