$140m injection for West Coast
Tourism is the big winner in a $140 million cash boost for the West Coast.
Projects such as boosting the TranzAlpine train service and redeveloping the key tourist attractions of Punakaiki and the Oparara Arches at Karamea have received more than $87m.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in announcing the Provincial Growth Fund commitment yesterday, said the region had ‘‘so much potential’’. She was on the West Coast with Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
The funding would help the Coast transition away from the ‘‘old mining industries to new opportunities, greener opportunities’’, Ardern said.
More than $20m has been earmarked for loans to develop a new garnet mine at Ruatapu, near Hokitika, new facilities at the Punakaiki Resort Wellness Centre, and machinery at Westland Milk.
Ardern said the loan for the garnet mine would create jobs for skilled Coasters.
‘‘The mineral extracted will replace more damaging products – those that we are transitioning from like copper slag and the use of coal commercially,’’ she said.
The tourism projects include $40m for a new premium service and additional capacity for the TranzAlpine. KiwiRail has already received $250,000 to investigate a new daily two-way passenger service between Westport and Hokitika.
KiwiRail acting chief executive Todd Moyle said the $40m would mean two more carriages would be added to the train service, including a high-quality premium carriage with more space and high-quality food to tap into the international high-value travel market.
It would increase passenger numbers from 82,000 to 120,000 a year. The money spent in the region would support about 290 new jobs, he said.
The funding also allows a $25.6m redevelopment at Dolomite Point in Punakaiki, which includes an underpass and new visitor centre owned and managed by Te Ru¯ nanga o Nga¯ ti Waewae.
The Buller District received $9.36m to build a new cycle trail between Westport and Charleston and $5.7m to improve visitor facilities and environmental protection at the Oparara Arches.
The money will also fund a $22m fibre connection between Fox Glacier and Lake Hawea, where there is no connectivity.