Road to Fox Glacier will not be repaired

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

An engineers report has found there are no practical solutions to reopen the Fox Glacier access road after a major landslide blocked it in February.

While the road won't be reopened, the government has created a $3.9 million plan to sustain South Westland's tourism.

The money will go towards:
o Redesigning the Fox Glacier/Te Moeka o Tuawe experience and valley walks and creating a car park and cycle/walkway for access to the south side of the valley and glacier views, and building trails to connect existing facilities.
o Collaborating with Ngāi Tahu and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio to develop a day walk to Lake Gault, which has reflection views of the mountains and forests and will incorporate rowi kiwi and lowland forest stories. This walk extends the walking options at Lake Matheson.
o Developing and promoting the easy access Peak Viewpoint which offers stunning views of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.
o Re-opening the coastal walkway to Galway Beach which provides a mix of alpine views, coastal forests, wetlands and wildlife.
o Extending the cycle/walking trail on Cook Flat Rd from Fox Glacier township to Lake Matheson.
o Re-configuring car parking at Lake Matheson to provide for additional users displaced from the glacier valley.
o Refreshing road signage and visitor information.