New Zealand / Regional

New highway proposal gets council support

17:59 pm on 25 April 2015

The Southland District Council is supporting a proposal for a new highway in Fiordland and is asking for public feedback.

The mayor, Gary Tong, said the council believed the idea of the Haast-Hollyford Highway has merit and needs further investigation.

He said the private consortium behind it has said no funds are required from the council.

But Mr Tong said it is a big commitment to get a private business involved in a council road, and the community needed to know what the long-term plans are.

He said the consortium still needs to go through the resource consent process.

The highway would create a toll-road between the West Coast and Milford Sound.