Guided running groups on the Routeburn Track are a breach of the Mt Aspiring National Park Plan and will ruin the tramping experience, opponents say.
The Department of Conservation denies these claims.
The complaints come after Australian adventure company Mile 27 Pty Ltd sought to be the second guided running business approved by Doc, after New Zealand Run Safari Ltd was granted a 10-year concession in April last year.
In December last year, Doc was advised by the Ombudsman to review its concession allocation process after it breached the Mt Aspiring National Park Management Plan by allowing a 66% increase, from 24 to 40, in overnight guided walkers.
An Otago Daily Times investigation revealed the concession review was "ongoing'' almost a year later and another possible breach of the plan.
That breach was to do with the number of guided walkers permitted on the Routeburn per day - 100 - and that "no new concessions should be considered past the Routeburn Falls hut''.
Mile 27 Pty Ltd's application is for use of the entire track.
Federated Mountain Clubs president Robin McNeill said allowing guided running groups on the Routeburn was "definitely a contravention'' of the national park plan and his members were not happy.
"Our feeling was that the Milford and Routeburn were introductory walking tracks so ... this takes away the experience.
''Mr McNeill said they were not opposed to new concessions, but they had to fit with what people were trying to achieve when heading out on the track.
"Is it adding to the enjoyment of the national park?''
Mr McNeill pointed to the fact the plan outlined "walker'' numbers, not runners. He assumed runners would be walking at some point.
Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club president Richard Forbes was of the same opinion.
"The whole point of restricting the numbers is to make it a nice experience,'' Mr Forbes said.
"It's just more people [on] the track.
"It's becoming a bit of cash cow really.''
Mr Forbes said the track was becoming too busy and his members tended to walk it during the winter rather than in summer.
"We don't generally do the Great Walks in the summer because it's too crowded. It's still all about the enjoyment of having the track to yourself.''
Both groups were concerned about large groups of runners and the impact it would have on a walkers experience.
Former Otago Conservation board member Chas Tanner laid the original complaint about extra concessions with the Ombudsman last year and felt Doc should not be granting new concessions while a review was in progress.
"The Minister needs needs to call to account her department and ask why they continue to consider shonky applications,'' Mr Tanner said.
A Doc spokeswoman said a 10-year concession was granted to NZ Run Safari Ltd for "up to 13 people'' including guides and confirmed it had received an application from an Australian guided-running business.
Doc had not breached the national park plan, the spokeswoman said.
"Doc considered that the policies in the ... national park plans providing for guided walking also applied to guided running and this small-scale activity complied with the provisions of both ... plans. Small groups of guided runners were considered only to have a minor effect on other track users or the environment.
"Doc sought advice from the conservation boards in light of recent increasing interest in guided running activities ... to ensure that any increased numbers of guided runners do not impact on visitor experiences.''
Mile 27 Pty Ltd owner Andy DuBois said the Routeburn Track was one of the trails the company applied for permission to use but it had not been notified as to whether the concession would be granted.
He said he was unsure what tramping organisations had against runners using the track so would not be drawn into the conversation.
New Zealand Run Safari Ltd did not respond to requests for comment.
