Phase two for Milford Opportunities Group begins

Thursday, 22 August 2019

Leveraging the attractions of Milford Sound to the wider Southland area will be part developing a master plan for Milford Sound, which has been given $3 million in funding.

The Milford Opportunity Governance Group have begun the second phase of developing a master plan for Milford Sound and surrounding areas as it starts to meet with stakeholders.

The group recently received $3 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy for the plan development.

The group were now seeking stakeholder and community engagement starting with a meeting with the Southland Conservation Board on Thursday, which was closed to the public and media.

Prior to the meeting, group chairman Dr Keith Turner said the first phase involved the group gathering data and researching the nature of the problems Milford Sound faced because of tourism growth.

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Meeting with Southland Conservation Board was important as they were a critical stakeholder as Milford Sound and its surrounding areas were under Department of Conservation estate, he said.

It was too soon to look at specific initiatives but the plan would look at leveraging the attractions of Milford South to open up opportunities in the wider Southland area, he said.

'We have stunning assets down in Southland. I mean Stewart Island Rakiura Island national park is an amazing place to visit, the Caitlins is an extraordinary area in New Zealand.

'They are perhaps unknown and I think there is a great opportunity to expose Southland to a wider community.'

Phase two would involve 'putting the meat on the bones' of the plan with a wide engagement with stakeholders, Turner said.

Funding from the levy would also be spent on hiring experts.

The group would draw members from agencies such as New Zealand Transport Agency, Department of Conservation, local council and business owners to form a working group, he said.

The master plan would be expected to be completed in the next 18 months, he said.

There would be a lot of projects and ideas from the public that would need to be evaluated alongside a cultural and economic frame, he said.

'A masterplan is something that integrates completely, so you don't do one thing at Piopiotahi [Milford Sound] and another thing at Te Anau that's inconsistent.'