A huge scar mars Ferry Hill. That’s what some Queenstown residents are saying. They’re not happy about the new track being carved into the hillside. This isn’t just any hill. Ferry Hill boasts Outstanding Natural Features according to the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Ferry Hill’s distinctive cone-like peak is highly valued. It’s visible from Frankton State Highway Six and the airport approach. Its importance to Kai Tahu and its natural beauty are undeniable. The council’s district plan limits earthworks here. Tracks must protect the landscape’s glacial processes. They should blend with existing landforms.
But the earthworks continue. Ross Copland the chief executive of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission owns the land. He’s undertaken similar work before. In 2020 he widened a farm track without resource consent. This caused drainage and slope instability. Significant rain led to erosion siltation and debris spreading downslope. Sediment even reached the Arrowtown Irrigation scheme.
The Otago Regional Council says the current work complies with its standards. They’ve assessed it against the National Environment Standard for Commercial Forestry. They also checked it against the ORC’s regional plan for water. The Queenstown Lakes District Council is investigating. They’ve received several complaints. They haven’t said whether Mr Copland has consent for the current earthworks.
The situation highlights a conflict. The council values Ferry Hill’s natural beauty. Yet earthworks continue. The ongoing investigation leaves the future of Ferry Hill uncertain. Will its Outstanding Natural Features be protected? Or will the scar remain a permanent reminder of this dispute? The view from the top is stunning still. But the changes below leave many questioning the balance between development and preservation in this beautiful part of New Zealand.