Too much at risk for monorail to proceed

The Fiordland monorail proposal puts too much at risk and should not go ahead, Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“The monorail will cut a swathe through significant areas of pristine beech forest and has the potential to lose the area its World Heritage status.

“The conservation and economic benefits of this proposal do not stack up and it should be declined. It requires a huge investment with equal financial risk.

“The wishes of locals have also been ignored. They have significant fears that the link will divert tourists away from an estimated 29 small communities potentially cutting off their economic livelihood.

“Given the continued murky swirl around the disappearance of the substantive submission from the Department of Conservation opposing the TRIM water management in the Tukituki River, the recommendations of Conservation officials to support this proposal needs close scrutiny.

“Conservation values, tourism, the security of our World Heritage status and the on-going viability of 29 towns are too important to sacrifice on a high risk private proposal. The monorail should be declined.

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