What's it all about?
A private company, whose majority shareholder is Infinity Investment Group, has applied to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for a concession to construct and operate a multi-modal transport link from Queenstown across a World Heritage designated area; unique due to its wilderness and biodiversity. The proposal would involve a boat, then all-terrain vehicles, and a 41km long monorail; constructed for the exclusive use of the company's clients. The monorail would end at Te Anau Downs (an isolated spot towards the northern end of Te Anau Lake where the company owns a hotel). The objective is then to transport tourists by coach to the fiord at Milford Sound. DOC indicated, prior to consultation, an 'intention' to grant the concession, but there has been public outrage during an ensuing consultation, and a final decision has yet to be made. Read more here about the proposal and the company behind it, and scroll down and follow the links for our 10 reasons why we must all oppose it.
Threat to our World Heritage status
Our World Heritage status, National Parks and Conservation Areas must be protected for future generations. Read more...
Permanent environmental damage
The FLE would affect grassed river valleys and mixed beech forest within a beautiful mountainous landscape. Read more...
What next?
It’s a terribly dangerous precedent. The granting of a concession for the FLE could lead to further exploitation of conservation lands. Read more...
A failure to follow process
There are management documents to be followed by the Department of Conservation to protect our wilderness. These are not being followed. Read more...
Ruination of the back country experience
The areas affected by this scheme currently provide an accessible introduction to New Zealand’s wilderness. This experience will be lost. Read more...
What experience anyway?
The Fiordland Link Experience will not be faster than the current road journey between Queenstown and Milford Sound, and will create hassle. Read more...
The monorail is not sustainable public transport
There are plenty of better options to reduce carbon miles between Queenstown and Milford Sound; such as park and ride schemes. Read more...
Queenstown is not the gateway to Milford Sound
There's no need to force through another route between these two places. Read more...
It just plain scares us
Would you want to give the go ahead to a non-essential monorail constructed in a mountainous earthquake zone? Read more...
No economic benefit
The construction of the monorail will mean temporary work for some, but detrimentally affect the economies of tourist towns in the region. Read more...
More links
Click here for all the above reasons on one page; pdf ideal to print 164KB
Click here for extracts from consultation submissions to the Department of Conservation from other people objecting to the monoral
Click here to read about our opposition to the other terrible project on the table; the tunnel
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