Southland Mayor Frana Cardno had tears in her eyes yesterday after Conservation Minister Nick Smith announced he had refused concession for a commercial bus tunnel through two national parks - a decision he described as ''conservative''. Dr Smith said in Wellington yesterday the environmental impacts of the proposal by Milford Dart Ltd (MDL) to construct a $180 million, 11.3km bus-only tunnel through the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring Nationals Parks were ''significant and beyond what is appropriate in two of New Zealand's most spectacular national parks and a World Heritage area''. Relieved locals celebrate small-town triumph... ''I appreciate my decision will be...
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