Milford Dart Ltd's proposal to dig a road tunnel through mountains in two national parks was likened to communist dogma practised in the Czech Republic - for happier tomorrows, we are sacrificing today - by a Glenorchy resident yesterday.
Vladka Kennett, originally from the Czech Republic, told the fourth day of resource consent hearings in Queenstown yesterday that lessons could be learned from "bitter mistakes" made in Europe.
The proposal "dangerously reminds me of the shallow communist practices - for happier tomorrows, we are sacrificing today", she told hearings chairman Paul Green and assistant Chris Visser.
Mrs Kennett said she was "very much for progress", but not at any cost, "and definitely not for the cost of raping one of the last natural oases in the world".
"If the tunnel goes ahead, it would be a precedent ... stop this now while you can and show that New Zealand [takes] a strong stand with its principles and wants to keep the reputation of a 'green' country."
Also a member of Search and Rescue, Mrs Kennett had concerns about safety aspects of the proposed tunnel, particularly about the emergency response capability.
"Glenorchy is a small community with limited resources. Even now we have to wait for a good hour to get help."
Queenstown landscape photographer and design engineer Jason Law described the proposed tunnel as a "laughable concept", and "diabolical".
Was the Department of Conservation willing to "risk the lives" of tourists to New Zealand, he asked.
One of Mr Law's primary concerns was about safety aspects of the tunnel, of which he believed there were none.
"It is clear a standard coach will not fit in this tunnel; or it may fit, but it won't be safe.
"There are no sprinkler systems [in the tunnel], no turn-around bays ... no fire suppression, no airtight safety rooms, no place for people to hide in case of a fire."
As an example, Mr Law raised the recent Swiss bus crash in which 28 people were killed. The world's media quickly focused on the tragedy.
He asked how the New Zealand brand would look after an accident such as that on a tourist bus here.
The Homer Tunnel, on the way to Milford Sound, was 1.2km in length and people had been admitted to hospital with smoke inhalation after travelling through it as a result of fires in coaches and vehicles.
"You have smoke, any fire in [the Dart Passage] tunnel ...how do emergency services get to it?
There's no lighting.
"It is diabolical."
He also questioned MDL's proposals to make a "fireproof bus" specifically for the tunnel.
"Who ... would design and put their name on a fireproof bus?
"I don't think there's such a thing in the world.
"I find it laughable."
Mr Law said the project did not stack up economically and negated a huge part of what made New Zealand's tourism industry profitable: safety.
The hearing will conclude today.
