One million travellers make the 600km return journey from Queenstown to Milford each year, taking around 12 hours via SH94. By comparison, travellers going down the West Coast via SH6 could go directly to Milford saving five hours of travel time.
We need a multi-layered debate on this, embracing economics, ecology, tourism and wilderness conservation values.
The Haast-Hollyford Road has been mooted since the 1870s and was approved by Parliament in 1936, but halted with the outbreak of World War II. The project resumed in 1958, adding 8km in the Hollyford Valley and a bulldozer track was cut to Big Bay from the Jackson (northern) end in 1974.
The time is right to review the road's status even though Federated Mountain Clubs and many outdoors enthusiasts oppose it. The true measure of any national infrastructure development project is this: What is the greatest benefit to all New Zealanders?
In this case, around 3000 trampers now enjoy the Hollyford and Pyke valleys each year whereas 100,000 travellers will experience the scenic values of this part of Fiordland once the road is established. That's the current tally of South Westland visitors each year so I'm being conservative. The tourism potential is huge for both Westland and Southland.
The main argument advanced by opponents of the road is loss of wilderness. However, I see it differently. Far from compromising the wild places, a "South-West touring circuit" will open up new "front country", with 100 World Heritage Area valleys to explore. These valleys are only accessible to inveterate, multi-day trampers at present.
Many of the valleys, ridges and peaks opened up will test the mettle of the hardiest self-sufficient trampers. Fiordland is more than two and a half times bigger than the whole Auckland region and 1.25 millon hectares would remain untouched even with a new road.
My own experience in New Zealand's wild places convinces me that we will not threaten our wilderness areas, which constitute one-third of our land mass. From early days in the Tararua Tramping Club, I've taken every opportunity to go into the mountains, yet in a lifetime of exploration, have traversed less than 2 per cent of our conservation estate.
We are blessed with a beautiful country and, as with all our natural resources, we have to weigh up the pros and cons of leaving them locked up, or developing them for the future prosperity of our nation.
As challenging as this proposal is, it is vital that we begin an open and frank discussion on the Haast-Hollyford Road, leading to a new feasibility study and a funding allocation. The Government has indicated that it is prepared to review the project if there's significant public support. I'd like to think there is.
