Criticism Of Mt Cook Village Site Decision

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 10

Criticism Of Mt Cook Village Site Decision

The South Island Publicity Association is to seek a meeting with the Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre) about his decision to put the Mount Cook village at Birch Hill Stream, five miles and a half from the Hermitage.

It wants to know whether the village is to be an alpine village providing extra accommodation for tourists, or just a service village. It decided yesterday that if the Minister intends to put an alpine village at Birch Hill, the deputation may ask him to reconsider. Mr E. T. Beaven, the deputy-president, said that the Mount Cook area development committee wanted to set up a design and engineering consortium to bring down a report on the “right places for the right things” at Mount Cook. The expense would be met by the tourist industry. “Should Be Consulted”

The Minister’s decision did not conform in any way with the requirements expressed by the tourist industry. It was the tourist industry that was going to work in the area, and it should be consulted. The consortium should still be set up, in spite of the Minister’s decision, he said. Mr A. S. Abernethy, the South Canterbury Public Relations Officer, said the association should press for a policy of development close to the Hermitage. “I believe the whole question of a village has been a tactical device by the park board to divert development to some place outside its area,” said Mr Abernethy.

This would enable the board to “carry on in its own sweet way in the Hermitage area for evermore.” Early Move Urged Mr J. L. Chapman, of the Travel and Holidays Association, said his agreed that a target of 1000 beds should be set for the Mount Cook area, and that it should be close to the Hermitage. A deputation should meet the Minister “pretty smartly.” Mr R-. L. G. Talbot, Government member of Parliament for Ashburton, said he had always been a strong advocate of Hooker Flat as the site for supplementary accommodation, and the Minister’s decision disappointed him. But Mr H. J. Walker, Government member of Parliament for St Albans, said he supported the Minister’s decision. Mr A. D. Dick. Government member of Parliament for Waitaki, and a member of the Mount Cook National Park Board, said the board considered that the Glencoe fan should be reserved for tourist accommodation at all rates, but it was not big enough to accommodate everything. The Minister had decided to put the servicing village at Birch Hill, and it would include some overflow beds. There was no room on the Glencoe fan for such things as a service station, school, post office, shops, and pilots’ and drivers’ accommodation