The highway being proposed by Westland Properties (an organisation owned and controlled by the Westland District Council) in partnership with an as-yet-unnamed foreign investor would be between 108km and 138km long, with almost 80km within Southland.
Backers say it would cost about $220 million to build and would be a major tourist route, cutting 335km and four or five hours of travelling time from the present journey between Haast and Milford Sound.
The cost of construction and ongoing maintenance would be met from tolls, estimated at $27 million or more annually, depending on charges and the number of motorists using the road.
Councillors yesterday were sceptical of the estimate and whether tolls would raise enough for construction and maintenance. They were also concerned liability for the road might fall back on the council and therefore burden its ratepayers.
Westland Properties made a presentation to the council in December and had then been asked for further information to support its estimates, councillor Diane Ridley said.
"We wrote them a letter at Christmas ... and we haven't even had the courtesy of a reply," she said.
