Aoraki/Mt Cook plan gets mixed support
Recreational groups may support a ‘‘park and ride’’ access option to the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park but claim their own entry options have to be flexible.
Tramping and recreational groups are among the nearly 900 parties making submissions on the park’s proposed management plan, which lists measures to deal with increasing visitor pressures on the park. One option is a parkand-ride system where visitors would catch buses for a final 11-kilometre trip to the village.
The Canterbury Mountaineering Club’s submission backs the idea, as long as vehicle access at any time is maintained for those intending to access the park overnight and longer. ‘‘Back country adventurers ... need to be able to start (and finish) trips within the park at hours that would fall outside any operating hours of the proposed Park and Ride.’’
Karen Leacock, of Christchurch Tramping Club, said the devil would be in the detail. ‘‘Maximum flexibility is needed for trampers and climbers accessing the park. We arrive and leave at odd times,’’ her submission says. Leacock’s submission adds that any park-andride system must be free and allow for the exclusion of camper vans and other inappropriately large vehicles from the park.
New Zealand Alpine Club member Andrew Haugh says while he supports the park-andride system to manage vehicle congestion, ‘‘there is no guidance on protecting access for climbers and other recreationalists who will come and go from the park at all hours’’.
There were several dozen proforma submissions that shared the views of the New Zealand Alpine Club. The proposal also has support from conservation advocacy group Forest and Bird but other parties expressed concern it would set a precedent.
Vivien and Christopher Shaw, of Te Anau, say ‘‘free access to our National Parks is a principle that we hold dear and we are totally opposed to any proposals that would require New Zealanders to pay to enter the Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park. The introduction of park and ride is effectively introducing a charge’’.
Charlie Hobbs, who runs the Old Mountaineers’ Cafe at Aoraki/Mt Cook Village, also foresaw problems. ‘‘Shuttles
‘Free access to our National Parks is a principle that we hold dear . . . ’
Vivien and Christopher Shaw
would create congestion. People would be dropped off ... at the same time, creating mass groups of people simultaneously walking on the track, thereby further reducing the quality of the experience,’’ his submission says.
‘‘Visitors will have to wait for a shuttle to the Hooker Track, wait again for another one to Tasman Valley and wait again to be taken into the village. Most won’t do that.’’
Hobbs suggested instead of a park-and-ride system, the Department of Conservation should expand car parking adjacent to the Aoraki/Mt Cook village.
‘‘When village parking is full, visitors can drop off their family and park the car within a simple walk to the village.