Government response to the Milford Opportunities Project released

MOP and ACAT’s advocacy

Starting in 2017, MOP was a large-scale planning exercise to determine the future of the Milford
area. The project provided its recommendations to the government last year. When the draft master plan was released in 2021, we identified that it contained few references to ‘recreation’ as all the focus was on ‘tourists’. Of concern were potential access charges and proposals to limit vehicle access and parking along the Milford Rd, which could have made it difficult for climbers to access crags and peaks within the Darrans.

ACAT, NZAC and FMC teamed up to write a joint letter to the Minister of Conservation demanding that our organisations be properly consulted during the project’s ‘feasibility testing’ phase. This was successful, and ACAT trustee Vickie and general manager Edwin subsequently met with MOP staff including the project’s director, providing a submission outlining how any changes to the Milford Rd corridor could avoid negative impacts on climbing access.

We emphasised the different needs of tourists and recreationists. We supported the creation of a park-and-ride bus system for tourists to reduce vehicle traffic, provided that recreational access was not impacted. Our feedback was well received and informed MOP’s recommendations to the government.

Government response

The government’s response was released earlier this week. It appears that the government has decided not to adopt most of the MOP’s original proposals. There is to be some investment in tourist-related infrastructure along the road, but otherwise it’s mostly status quo. We are pleased that the proposals most threatening to recreational access, restrictions on vehicle access and parking around climbing locations, have been dropped.

On the other hand, it’s disappointing that most of the original Plan’s proposals to limit tourism impact, such as the bus system and restrictions on cruise ships, have also been dropped. More investment in a tourist stop at the Gertrude Valley has been approved, which we know will be a concern for NZAC given the proximity of Homer Hut – this needs to be done in consultation with them. 

And the potential for access charges remains – ACAT recently made another submission against DOC proposals to charge for access to conservation areas. A new Fiordland National Park Management Plan will now be developed, which will be a key opportunity to ensure the importance of this world-class climbing area is properly recognised and climbing is enabled.

MOP is no more, but our work advocating for climbers’ interests at the highest level continues.