Dunedin businessman Sir Clifford Skeggs' bid for a Queenstown-Mt Nicholas boat link has been welcomed as "complementary" by the developers of the proposed $150 million FiordlandLink Experience, which plans to chart a similar course across Lake Wakatipu and on to the Von Valley.
FiordlandLink's three-phase project would take passengers 20km across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Mt Nicholas by catamaran, linking with all-terrain vehicles travelling 45km up existing back-country roads through the Von River Valley to a terminus at Kiwi Burn, where a 41km monorail trip would take them to Te Anau Downs.
The Skeggs Group Ltd's Southern Discoveries plans to "open up" Lake Wakatipu's tourism potential with daily boat cruises from Queenstown to Mt Nicholas Station, offering cycling to the Von Valley and Mavora Lakes.
Southern Discoveries operates five scenic passenger boats in Milford Sound and plans to move its 200-passenger vessel Lady of the Sounds from the fiord to Lake Wakatipu.
The resource consent hearing was held last week and a decision is expected within the next two weeks.
John Beattie, director of Riverstone Holdings Ltd - the company behind FiordlandLink - said he did not consider the Skeggs plans a threat.
"Southern Discoveries' initiative is quite complementary and shares a similar vision as to the initial stages across the lake and in and around the Von Valley as elements of a journey which will be highly attractive to visitors and mountain bikers," he said.
Although there had not been any discussions yet, Mr Beattie said if the Southern Discoveries venture was approved he would contact Skeggs Group.
Department of Conservation Southland community relations manager Martin Kessick said a report was being prepared on Riverstone Holdings' revised concession application dealing with the monorail leg of FiordlandLink, which would run through Doc-administered land between the Snowdon conservation area and the Mavora Lakes.
"The report will identify the effects on the land that we administer and then the applicant and the public will have a chance to comment."
