Battle looming over skifield plan

Battle lines are being drawn over a quiet slice of back country land on the outskirts of Queenstown that could be turned into a world-class ski resort.

NZ Ski wants to build a 230-metre tunnel near the top of The Remarkables Ski Area, which would open a new and larger ski area on the eastern flank of the spectacular mountain range.

No application has been made but a Department of Conservation (DOC) process to reclassify a 33,000 hectare area known as KawarauRemarkables Conservation Areas could doom the project before it starts.

Consultation on the reclassification started in November 2020, partly prompted by a 2017 call from the Federated Mountain Clubs to have the area given national park status.

That would give the area the highest protection possible and preclude commercial operations such as infrastructure-intensive skifields being established.

The current 395ha Remarkables Ski Area is in the adjacent Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve and is not included in the reclassification process.

The proposed new skifield area, known as the Doolans after the creek that runs through it, comprises about 450ha of tussockcovered land and sits at the top of the Nevis Valley. It is included in the reclassification process.

Federated Mountain Clubs president Jan Finlayson said a liberal reclassification of the land would be signing its death warrant, describing it as a ‘‘gem of wild terrain right on Queenstown’s commercial doorstep’’ enjoyed by trampers, climbers, hunters, bikers and ski tourists.

Allowing large scale ski area development would see the degradation in the Rastus Burn repeated in the Doolans, she said.

‘‘The land’s mana and natural richness deserve permanent recognition.’’

In its submission on the DOC reclassification process, NZ Ski argued the Doolans area should become recreation reserve, or at least excluded from a national park classification.

With almost 300,000 annual visits the ski area was near capacity, the company said, and the snow sports industry provided for the health and economic wellbeing of the district.

‘‘The slopes of the Doolans that provide the best opportunity for ski area development are the south-east facing slopes, which comprise around 450 hectares or fewer than 1.4 per cent of the 33,085-hectare land area of the Kawarau/ Remarkables Conservation Area.’’

DOC compiled five reports detailing Nga¯i Tahu values, practices and associations, the landscape, and the ecological, historic and recreational values of the area.

The landscape report concluded that ‘‘the overuse of tourism activities and possible expansion of ski area development further into the conservation area are additional potential threats to landscape values.’’

NZ Ski acknowledged the report and said it was impossible to protect landscape values such as remoteness with the introduction of increased infrastructure.

‘‘The relatively small size of the land required for ski area development would enhance recreational values, [and] enable the effects of the required infrastructure to be closely managed,’’ the company said.

It would also ‘‘allow for the appreciation of the natural beauty of the high alpine environment by a wider range of people than those very few with the physical capabilities to walk or climb to these environments’’.

The DOC recreational report said the Doolans area was considered ‘‘great’’ for skiing, with many skiers using the Remarkables’ Curvey Basin chairlift for access, followed by a short 10-minute ski up the ridge and into the Doolans.

‘‘This area is a good introduction to the sport of ski touring when there are good snow conditions.

‘‘It is one of a few locations for this activity available in Otago.’’

DOC submissions on the values of the area closed in February, and it had been intended that a proposed new classification would be made, followed by a round of public hearings.

The Press has requested to see copies of submissions received and an update on the progress of the reclassification process. DOC was not able to respond by deadline.