About 200 Queenstown people filled the resort's Memorial Hall last night to hear first-hand about the fight against the proposed Milford Dart tunnel and Fiordland Link monorail.
Speakers outlined why the costly fight against the tunnel, and to a lesser extent the monorail, should be fought with a united regional front.
Among the losses if Queenstown supported the proposals would be "regional hostility" between the resort and neighbouring Te Anau, Federated Mountain Club president Rob Mitchell said in a statement read out by Ruth-Ann Anderson.
Both proposals would bypass tourist-driven Te Anau.
Queenstown would also face reputational scorn and issues resulting from profits being funnelled into fewer hands, along with a tourism concept which encouraged visitors to "get in and get out", a far cry from the traditional strategy, Mr Mitchell's statement said.
Although the communities of Glenorchy and Te Anau have opposed the concessions, which Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has signalled her intent to grant, Queenstown has largely been silent on the issues.
Those attending were asked whether they wanted to "Europeanise" New Zealand and sacrifice "ecological and social" treasures for "corporate interests" by allowing major transport links through two national parks.
Queenstown residents were reminded New Zealand was sold to international visitors as an unspoiled natural landscape, Blanket Bay resident Philip Jenkins said.
Mr Jenkins, a former Destination Queenstown board member, said Londoners came out of their London underground tunnel to visit New Zealand's wilderness.
Regarding access to Milford Sound, he said "there is an infrastructure that exists already: over the top and around, you don't need to go underneath as well". "Less is more."
Speakers paid tribute to international campaigners, such as the signatories to an online protest against the tunnel, some of whom have declared they would not return to New Zealand should it go ahead.
The meeting was chaired by Glenorchy woman Leslie van Gelder, and many speakers from the small community emphasised the "end of the road" status which they were fighting to retain.
Of a differing opinion but still in opposition, Te Anau speakers talked about their home that relied on visitors.
Queenstown resource management lawyer Annabelle Richie explained initiating proceedings in the High Court would be a costly and effort-rich process of which campaigners needed to be aware.
It was estimated $100,000 would be needed to fight the proposals if they were granted, and the Stop the Tunnel and Save Fiordland movements needed help in this regard.
Campaigners had been raising funds in a variety of ways, such as the "bathroom sculpture" in the form of a roll of toilet paper featuring Doc documents which raised more than $300. T-shirts and bumper stickers opposing the tunnel were available to buy.
The $150 million 11.3km tunnel would run from the Routeburn Rd in Mt Aspiring National Park to the Hollyford Rd in the Fiordland National Park and attracted more than 1200 submissions during the submission period.
The 43km monorail would run from near the Mavora Lakes to Milford at Te Anau Downs and attracted more than 280 submissions.
Ms Wilkinson has not said when a final decision would be made on either proposal.
Advertisement
