First listen to June 23rd 2013 to hear about getting to Milford Sound.
Dr Nick Smith, the Minister for Conservation, has now decided not to allow a tunnel to Milford Sound. Although the company wanting to build the tunnel is disappointed with this decision, many people are very happy. People who enjoy tramping in these two National Parks did not want the tunnel. The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society – called ‘Forest and Bird’ – did not want native forest destroyed. The people of Te Anau are pleased that tourists will continue to visit their town and the very small town of Glenorchy near Queenstown, did not want dozens of tour buses every day.
Dr Smith gave a number of reasons for his decision. He said that if a tunnel was built, half a million tonnes of rock would be dumped in the Hollyford Valley. The tunnel entrance was too close to the Routeburn Track which is a very popular walking track. There would be new roads and traffic next to a quiet National Park. He thought a long narrow tunnel, only 5m wide, could be dangerous. And finally, he thought a tunnel would destroy the idea of a National Park which is a conservation area and should stay a conservation area for generations to come.
He has not yet made a decision about a monorail. He plans to announce his decision in about two months time.
Vocabulary
• Conservation –looking after native animals and trees and natural places
• decision (n), decide (v) – he made up his mind
• disappointed – hoping for a good result and not happy with the decision
• tramping – hiking (Brit Eng), long walks e.g. Routeburn Track is a 4-day walk
• destroyed – badly damaged
• National Parks – there are 14 National Parks in New Zealand
• a dozen – 12 (dozens = many)
• dumped – thrown down
• generations to come – e.g. his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren