Hollyford Valley: Flooded and seemingly forgotten
February floods damaged parts of Hollyford Valley beyond recognition. Now there are fears it has become Fiordland’s forgotten corner.
Ron Anderson is one of 11 landowners at Martins Bay, one of the most remote settlements in New Zealand.
‘‘I’ve been going there for about 45 years and it’s almost scary to see what’s happened down there,’’ he said.
‘‘It affects you in a way that’s hard to describe. The landscape is so scarred. There’s so many slips and everything has changed."
More than 1 metre of rain fell on Fiordland over three days in early February, destroying huts, tracks and roads, and leaving many trampers needing to be rescued by helicopter.
Nearly 200 tourists were trapped in Milford Sound for three days. Road access to the popular tourist spot remains restricted.
Anderson said the Hollyford River, located about 50 kilometres away from Milford, flooded homes in the area and rendered some ‘‘demolition material’’.
Thousands of trees were lost and many ended up in creeks and the Hollyford River, which had damaged bridges and created hazards for unwary jet boats.
The Hollyford Conservation Trust, of which Anderson is chairman, would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to fix tracks, replace traps and repair equipment such as quad bikes and outboard motors found floating upside down in the trust’s storage shed, he said.
‘‘It’s big bikkies for a conservation project when you’re relying on public funding.’’
The biggest issue was reaching the region, as the final 25km of road had been ‘‘obliterated’’.
Those wanting to access the area into Martins Bay either have to walk the track or travel by jet boat.
Hollyford Track remains closed, Nga¯ i Tahu Tourism’s Hollyford Guided Walks are not operating, and those with huts cannot get access to them. Anderson accepted reopening the ‘‘iconic’’ Milford Rd needed to be
‘‘Will people ever get to walk the track again? You can fly and come by helicopter but most people can’t afford that.’’ Ron Anderson
prioritised, but some people were starting to feel the Hollyford had been forgotten.
‘‘The road is completely obliterated and there is no plan for it. Will people ever get to walk the track again? You can fly and come by helicopter but most people can’t afford that.’’
The road is owned by the Southland District Council, but funded by the NZ Transport
Agency (NZTA) due to its designation as a ‘‘special purpose road’.
NZTA system manager Graeme Hall said staff from both organisations flew over the area this week and a report should be completed by the end of next week.
Anderson said the district council should help also.
‘‘There aren’t any libraries or footpaths or rubbish collections there. We’re hoping rates paid over the last 40 years can go someway to fixing those roads.’’
Te Anau-based Department of Conservation (DOC) principal ranger Grant Tremain said the track would remain closed for the forseeable future.
Staff had managed to fix most of the damaged bridges, tracks, and huts – including the McKerrow Island hut, where trampers had to climb onto the roof to escape fast-rising floodwaters.
‘‘The biggest challenge we have is that public road down there. That’s really what’s kept people from going down and using it.’’
Getting access into the area was a priority, he said.
Nga¯ i Tahu Tourism huts are also understood to have been damaged and the company’s website confirms no more bookings are being taken for the season. A spokeswoman declined to comment further.
Anderson said the good news for the area was that the birdlife, including 150 endangered South Island robins that were released last year, was flourishing.
Last year’s ‘‘mega mast’’ led to an explosion in rat and stoat numbers, which the trust fought using traps and the help of 1080 from DOC.
Trustees now hope to stay on top of the predator control.
‘‘The birdlife is just outstanding. The birds don’t seem to be too upset at all,’’ Anderson said.