New road to Narnia film set angers watchdog

By ALAN PERROTT

A new gravel road scarring a remote South Island sheep station is a prime example of New Zealand pandering to the needs of Hollywood, says environmental group Forest and Bird.

It claims a 6km road leading to a film set for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was kept under the public radar until an inquiry from its Christchurch field officer Tony Lockwood.

The road was a major upgrade to a rough 4-wheel drive track which connected the set on the high country Flock Hill Station with State Highway 73, the scenic Arthurs Pass Highway.

Flock Hill will form the backdrop to the climactic battlescene at the end of the movie. Much of the set was destroyed by gale-force winds last month.

A spokesman for the $170 million Walden-Disney production said the picturesque location had been the key to bringing the movie to New Zealand, but he would not comment further.

The rough farm track is now a 5m-wide roadway with new bridgework and 2m cuts and batters.

Mr Lockwood said the Selwyn District Council, which oversees the area, had been aware of the construction work but did not institute resource consent procedures until he followed up on a call by motorists who spotted the new road from State Highway73.

He was annoyed the subsequent resource consents and approvals had been made without outside input.

"Our grief is that this is an area boasting an outstanding natural landscape, the sort of landscape that drew the project to the area in the first place, and it will be left with a permanent scar because of very short-term film activity."

Selwyn District Council chief executive Paul Davey said he objected to Forest and Bird's intrusion into its work. Mr Lockwood's comments were inflammatory and harsh, he said.

All proper procedures had been followed once the council became aware of the road.

"The issue was drawn to our attention by a complaint," Mr Davey.

"We're not always privy to everything that goes on in the Selwyn District."

Mr Davey said the consents were not publicly notified because the work was a controlled activity.