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Aircraft operators in Fiordland say tourists may miss out on sightseeing flights in the area because of strict new noise pollution rules.
Aircraft noise has been upsetting national park users such as trampers and anglers for years and the Department of Conservation and the aircraft operators have been
trying to negotiate a compromise.
Now, new rules for landings at Milford Sound have been set as part of the Fiordland National Park Management Plan, approved by the Conservation Authority.
Companies flying over Fiordland and landing at Milford used to have no restriction on how many flights they made.
But now they must get concessions, which limit them to the number of flights made in 2004-05.
Only 23 concessions will be available, based on the number of aircraft operators in 2004-05.
Operators must also pay for the monitoring of their flights in the park, and if more than 25 per cent of park users find the noise annoying it might affect their right to fly.
"I guess we have got to a point now where we have to accept what is there now is workable and we are just going to have to tailor the businesses to suit," said Mark Quickfall, of the Queenstown-Milford User Group, which represents 33 tourist flight operators.
Mr Quickfall said operators now had to fit all of their customers into the number of flights allowed each year.
"I just had one salesperson in Auckland who wanted us to fly in 200 people. Normally we would haul in other operators to help, but they will be a little reluctant to give up some of their landings to fly these people."
The Tourism Industry Association said it would be watching closely for any sign of the limits restricting the lucrative tourism industry in Fiordland.
"We believe the annual landing limit is a blunt tool and may leave visitors unable to fly into Milford because operators have been grounded after reaching their annual limits," said association chief executive Fiona Luhrs.
The Department of Conservation's Southland conservator, Kevin OConnor, said the number of flights allowed could be increased if noise pollution was addressed.
"If the research indicates noise levels are acceptable, then reasonable growth can occur," Mr O'Connor said.
"If it is not acceptable, the challenge is for operators themselves to apply various techniques to reduce the noise."
Mr Quickfall said the new plan was at least better than DoC's original proposal to cut the number of aircraft operators into Fiordland to six.
"It would have displaced 17-odd operators. A lot of people have spent a lot of years setting up their businesses."
Some operators were buying quieter aircraft to try to limit noise pollution.
