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Concession granted for Fiordland tunnel


Cool Hand Lock

26-Nov-2011
8:41:43 AM

It'll cost like a gazillion kiwi dollars to build a tunnel that size.... thats like $50 Aussie bucks?


Cesca

15-Dec-2011
11:01:13 AM

I'm happy to say that NZ's FMC - Federated Mountain Clubs - have been raising awareness of the intention to grant the concession for this tunnel via their e-newsletters, social media and on the 6pm news since at least November.

They have 11,000 members and are the national association of over 80 tramping and mountaineering clubs.

The FMC have proven themselves to be reliable when it comes to taking a stance on things like mining in national parks, so I am glad to see they've got behind this too.

But aside from that, there seems to be little public awareness of the issue here in NZ. I think it's sneaky (arguably clever) how they timed the announcement of DoC's intention to grant the concession to coincide with the silly season.

Another aspect of this tunnel that is highly questionable to me.....Fiordland is one of the most seismically active parts of NZ (the major Alpine Fault runs right through it, and crosses the Hollyford Valley at Lake McKerrow) and south Fiordland had a mag. 8.6 quake as recently as 2009.

Having come through the Canterbury quakes, I would not want to be anywhere near a tunnel in the event of a significant shake. I would like to think the powers that be would learn from the Canterbury quakes, in terms of what we build, how and where!

Remember, Jan 27 2012 is the deadline for voicing your opposition....

http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/consultations/current/notified-concession-applications/dart-passage-tunnel-milford-dart-ltd/

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