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Minister of Conservation to open Milford new attraction

Tuesday 9 November 2010, 10:02AM

By Southern Public Relations

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Milford Discovery Centre & Milford Deep underwater observatory
Milford Discovery Centre & Milford Deep underwater observatory Credit: Southern Public Relations

MILFORD

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson is to officially launch the Southern Discoveries Milford Discovery Centre and Milford Deep Underwater Observatory this Wednesday (November 10).

 

At the centre’s opening ceremony the Minister will unveil a special plaque before experiencing the newly developed Milford attraction, which incorporates Milford Deep, New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory.

 

Southern Discoveries is unique in operating the Milford Discovery Centre, which together with Milford Deep provides a rich educational resource of information unavailable anywhere else in the world-renowned fiord.

 

The half million dollar development sits on an existing floating structure within Milford Sound. It is the only structure of its kind in the Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, where visitors descend more than 10m below the surface to marvel at spectacular marine life in its natural habitat.  Milford Deep Underwater Observatory first opened 15 years ago.

 

Southern Discoveries’ General Manager John Robson said the new centre brought a “fresh learning element” to visitors’ Milford experience.

 

“Southern Discoveries is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to develop and share our strong conservation values,” he said.

 

“At the Milford Discovery Centre, visitors of all ages can learn a thing or two about the National Park and Milford Sound’s untouched, natural beauty with its unique native plant life and rare animal and marine species.

 

“It’s designed to help people get a real feel and appreciation for this truly exceptional place in the world.”

 

The Discovery Centre features stunning information panels, videos, pictures and a guided tour which takes customers through a historical journey covering early European settlement and tourism, Maori history, the building of the Homer Tunnel and developments of the Milford Road and Milford Track.

 

“Among the information at the Centre is an area dedicated to our Sinbad Sanctuary project, which looks to protect the habitat of rare species in the Sinbad Gully at the foot of Mitre Peak,” said Mr Robson.

 

“This particular project is at the very heart of our conservation estate and receives a lot of commitment from our team, and our partners at the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Conservation Trust.

 

Southern Discoveries is the oldest and most well-established operator in Milford Sound, taking visitors around the fiord on its fleet of modern, comfortable, dolphin-friendly boats to encounter unique wildlife, tumbling waterfalls and the towering beauty and majesty of Mitre Peak. It has a fleet of three spacious catamarans and the Encounter Cruise, and also operates the Blue Duck Café and Bar in Milford Sound.

 

Before visiting the Milford Discovery Centre and unveiling the plaque, Ms Wilkinson and invited guests will experience a short boat trip around the fiord, cruising past the base of Sinbad Gully and the foot of Mitre Peak.

 

Southern Discoveries was bought by the Dunedin-based Skeggs Group in September 2008, at which time Group Managing Director David Skeggs promised an on-going programme of investment.

 

The Skeggs board will attend the official launch as special guests.

 

Sinbad Gully background information

The Sinbad Gully is located close to the head of Milford Sound within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand world heritage area.

In 1974 Sinbad Gully was set apart as a “Special Area” because of the presence of kakapo and the largely unmodified state of the vegetation.  This status was lifted in 1992.  At this stage deer had become established in Sinbad Gully and kakapo were thought to be no longer present, therefore it was considered no longer necessary to restrict public access under the special area status.  Sinbad Gully is now classified as part of the “Eastern Remote Zone” under the Fiordland National Park Management Plan (2007).

The Sinbad Gully has a natural barrier of steep terrain, combined with a cold, wet climate which has limited the invasion of mammalian predators. These attributes have contributed to making it a safer refuge for the rare lizard species such as the Sinbad and Mahogany skinks and the Cascade gecko.  All three were only recently discovered in the Sinbad Gully and the Sinbad skink is known only to the Sinbad Gully. Other species present include rock wren, kea, whio, kiwi, weka, large weta and other large colourful invertebrates.  The valley was also one of the last refuges of kakapo in Fiordland. 

The animal pests that DOC proposes to control have a serious impact on native wildlife through direct predation and competition for food.  Control of both possums and stoats will be the key focus for the project.  In time if funding allows rodent and deer control may also become a focus in the Sinbad. 

Once the initial knockdown of possums and stoats has been achieved, ongoing control work will be required to maintain low predator densities.  Maintenance control will be achieved through regular servicing of stoat traps and by monitoring possum densities and controlling as required.  The valley walls surrounding the Sinbad Gully form a natural barrier that will limit the re-invasion of introduced predators.