New Zealand tourism operators fear one of the world’s last great wilderness destinations, the World Heritage Fiordland national park, will be spoiled by the construction of an underground bus tunnel through the area.
A private company plans to build an 11km bus tunnel in New Zealand’s Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks, both situated in the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.
The tunnel would be for the use of buses to take tourists from Queenstown to the Milford Sound.
Tourism groups believe the World Heritage status of the region is under threat because of the project and have joined an online protest aimed at halting the development.
Local resident Patricia Ko started a petition on Change.org, which has been signed by more than 9,500 people.
Each time the petition is signed, an email is sent to Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, who has the final decision on the project.
Ko said the Milford Dart tunnel project was putting at risk New Zealand’s "100% Pure" brand.
"Putting a bus tunnel through this world heritage area is akin to building a chairlift to the top of Ayers Rock or putting a parking lot on top of the Great Barrier Reef," said Ko, who lives in Glenorchy, the town known for its backdrops used in the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit and Narnia films.
Several tourism operators in the region are backing the petition.
