Road access to Franz Josef glacier vital

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 18

Road access to Franz Josef glacier vital

The F’ranz Josef and’ Fox Glaciers are Westland's prime tourist attractions. Each year an estimated 200,000 people visit the region with the main aim to walk bn the glaciers. Both' glaciers are world renowned, but differ widely in appearance. From the valley, the Franz Josef Glacier has a spectacular 1524 m icefall which plunges down a narrow gap between sheer rock walls. In retreat, this glacier has left behind Ice-carved rpcks, glacier mills and fault' lines. By contrast, the Fox Glacier is in a much more open valley. Its icefall is not visible from the road, but its glacier terminal is much more accessible. Much of the glacier ice below this terminal is buried beneath

moraine, with little icecarved rock evident. Since the road to Franz Josef Glacier was destroyed in March this year access has been restricted. Visitors can still walk to the glacier, but the sevenhour return trip is only suitable for the . extremely fit. Before the March flood which washed out the road, the walk through the National Park to the glacier took between two ana three hours. The alternative is flying to the glacier, either by helicopter or by ski-plane. Only about 10 per cent of visitors are catered for by these means because the cost to family groups and young people is often too expensive. For the 200 permanent residents of the Franz Josef

township, the main priority is restoring easy rohd access to the glacier. Already many visitors have complained that they feel “cheated” because of the restricted access. Some have quoted the Australian Trade Practices Act which draws attention to misleading advertising. Overseas visitors amount to about 60 per cent of the tourist trade through the village and are a major source of foreign exchange. According to the Roads Action (,'ouncil, which was formed after the slip in March, about $5.2M was earned through this sector last year. The council secretary is Mr Gerry McSweeney, and he says that it is essential that good road access is available for the large num-

bers of people who want to walk to the glacier. Three options have been suggested — a high level road over the Lake Wombat terrace that would cost about SIM; a low level road on the former alignment, with well-protected rock, costing about $500,000; and a four-wheel drive track up the riverbed at a cost of about $30,000.

Mr McSweeney says the council believes the low level road is the most realistic because it could be constructed by spring. The main disadvantages of the high level road are the capital costs and the length of time for completion of the road. The council feels the four-wheel drive track would be unsuitable as it would periodically need reinstating.