Franz to fight for glacier road

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 1

Franz to fight for glacier road

By

LES BLOXHAM

Franz Josef residents will launch a campaign to ensure that the Government provides support in restoring without delay the access road to the Franz Josef glacier. Fed by last week’s torrential rain, the Waiho River on Thursday night swept away all trace of about 4km of the last 7km of the access road.

The road, vital for visitors wanting to view the glacier, ran up the south side of the Waiho River valley* first through a fine stand of native bush and then across the glacial moraine.

The road eroded at a carpark which served as a viewing area as well as the starting point for those wanting to climb for a closer inspection. Now much of the road no longer exists and the only way for visitors to see the glacier is either by helicopter or ski plane. Residents yesterday were not prepared to accept a suggestion made by the assistant general manager of the Tourist Hotel Corporation, Mr D. S. Callesen, that the road might not be opened again. The T.H.C. Hotel at Franz Josef has for years organised daily conducted tours on to the glacier and, more recently, became involved with the Mount Cook Group in a helicopter flight-seeing service to Luncheon Rock, about a quarter of the way up the glacier. Mr Callesen said early reports indicated that damage to the road was much worse than that caused by the last big flood, in January, 1979. “It would appear that we are going 'to have to rely a lot more heavily on the helicopter service,” he said. Mr Ralph Fegan, who helped spearhead the campaign to get the road reo-

pened m 1979, said that the town would fight any decision not to restore access. “The whole future of tourism in South Westland and Haast depends on the question of accessibility,” he said. "The Franz Josef Glacier has been promoted for years as a main tourist attraction. When tourists come here they expect to be able to see it. We must keep faith.” He agreed that visitors could view the glacier from the air, but said that flights were expensive and depended on the weather. “It is important to remember that not all tourists are keen on flying in small planes or helicopters,” he said.

Mr Fegan emphasised that he was not discrediting the glacier flight service. "They offer an invaluable service.” he said. “But they will not be able to cope with the needs of thousands of people who simply want to drive or walk up the valley to sit and view the glacier at leisure.”

Mr Fegan appears to have an ally in the form of the Minister of Tourism (Mr Talbot).

“The Press” Wellington staff reports that the Minister wants the access road repaired as soon as possible.

He said that the area gathered a lot of tourist revenue, but said that any final decision, would be subject to a report from the Tourist Hotel Corporation which he expected to receive in the next few days. Deteriorating access to the glacier was one reason given for the increased trading loss at the Franz Josef Hotel at the financial year ended March, 1980.

More guests stayed during the last financial year but the corporation’s annual report still showed a trading loss at Franz Josef.