Approval of a $5.7 million upgrade of tourism facilities at Milford Sound includes potential capacity to add extra boats, but details remain flexible.
The Milford Sound Development Authority Board (MDA) has announced a $5.7 million upgrade, which means a major redevelopment of the Freshwater Basin Harbour, where 14 tourist boats operate.
''The current infrastructure ... caters for the number of tourists we operate ... but, you do have to plan these things looking forward 10 or 20 years,'' MDA board chairman Jeff Grant said.
The purpose of relocating the existing breakwater is to provide a larger harbour to improve boat manoeuvrability and improve waterway safety generally within the harbour.
During the application process the MDA looked at the potential of increasing boat numbers, but nothing had been proposed.
''Capacity is pretty much at peak ... It will give the possibility of expansion but there are constraints on boat size and boat numbers already in place,'' Mr Grant said.
The existing curved breakwater arm will be straightened and moved about 10m further out to sea, enabling two turning circles within the harbour as opposed to the present single turning circle.
Boats which are ''hot-berthed'' or stationed furthest away from the dock will be moved closer, to ease tourist access.
The development will also involve dredging to enlarge the harbour, replacement and realignment of floating wharves, replacement of berthing and mooring dolphins and extending the visitor terminal promenade and deck.
Initial works are expected to begin in June 2011 with the dredging and earthworks starting in February 2012.
The works will be carried out over two winter periods to avoid disruption, and the MDA anticipates more than 450,000 visitors will take a cruise next year.
''Tourism in New Zealand will increase over the next 20 years, and future capacity is something we had to look at ... this is really a continuation of improving facilities in New Zealand, and continuing to upgrade the operations at Milford Sound.''
