Funding for new flood defences at Milford Sound, aimed at protecting vital tourism infrastructure and encouraging development in the village, has been unveiled by the Government.
The $13 million package would pay for upgrades to the existing Cleddau River protection works, which protected the village's infrastructure from flooding from the nearby river.
The work, which is yet to be granted resource consent, would see existing stop-banks expanded to protect against a 1:100 year flood.
Department of Conservation spokeswoman Beth Masser, of Te Anau, said existing defences were designed for a 1:50 year flood, but more security was needed to encourage development in the village.
Flooding of the Cleddau River could threaten the main access road into the village, as well as the airstrip, sewage treatment station, staff accommodation, diesel storage tanks and fishing facilities.
‘‘There's other things that will be able to happen as a consequence of this,'' she said. ‘‘It really is a key piece of work . . . to move forward in Milford,'' Ms Masser said.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick and Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor boarded the Milford Wanderer vessel in Milford Sound to unveil the funding package yesterday.
Ms Chadwick said Milford Sound was a ‘‘unique national treasure'' located in a high-risk area, with 8m of rain annually and indications ‘‘extremely heavy'' was becoming more frequent and heavier.
‘‘This investment is about making sure the area is safe and current infrastructure is protected to avoid any closure of Milford Sound and significant loss of tourism revenue,'' she said.
Mr O'Connor said the work would help ensure that Milford Sound remained accessible during severe weather, when tourism might otherwise be disrupted.
Fiordland National Park generated about $230 million to New Zealand's economy each year, with one-third of visitors to the country visiting the park and 90% of all park visitors stopping at Milford Sound.
‘‘Flood protection will enable this popular tourist attraction to continue to operate during severe weather, and appropriate new development and infrastructure can go ahead once the project is complete.
‘‘This means that we can continue to provide the best possible facilities to visitors, while also protecting the natural beauty of the Sound,'' he said.
Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno said the council had refused to issue resource or building consents on the Cleddau River delta because of the flooding risk, and there had been years of discussion about the need for 1:100 year flood defences.
The funding would allow the protection works to be built, giving the people living and working at Milford Sound, and the visitors, a degree of security, Mrs Cardno said.
