The Crown Range road – the highest public road in New Zealand – was the subject of quite some controversy in the early 1980’s. Just as Cardrona Ski Field was being launched, the local council decided that the road should be closed completely for part of winter. Then fireworks flew …
The Crown Range Road was constructed in the 1860s using pick and shovel to transport supplies by horse and dray between the Central Otago goldfields and Cromwell and Queenstown. Jack McDougal mentioned that this route was directly linked to Invercargill, highlighting its historical importance. Initially serving for horse and cart, it was later upgraded for vehicle use, especially 4WDs in summer.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a conflict arose between Cardrona residents and the council over keeping the road open all year round. One of stumbling blocks for access to the ski field and Cardrona from Queenstown was the graveled and unreliable nature of the road in the winter months. It is the highest public road in New Zealand.
The Queenstown District Lakes Council closed it during most of the winter months because it was often difficult to negotiate in winter conditions. After a long battle and help from the local residents John Lee managed to convince the Council to keep the road open in the winter months.
It is now a very busy sealed road connecting Queenstown and Wanaka and bringing the Queenstown International Airport within easy distance of Cardrona.
In the news: the timeline of the Crown Range Road issue, as covered by local media
10 May 1979
Closure of Gates Causes Concern
The Cardrona road committee has expressed concern at the possibility of the Lake County Council closing gates at each end of the high-altitude Crown Range route, between Queenstown and Wanaka, during the winter.
August 1979
Opening Date August 6
The Cardrona ski field will be offically opened on Saturday, August 6 next year, marking the fulfilment of John Lee’s 13 year dream.
8 September 1979
Skifield Needs Winter Access
The success of the proposed Cardrona skifield will depend vitally on the Crown Range road being kept open in winter the Lake County Council’s town planning committee was told in Wanaka yesterday.
7 August 1982
Friction About Grading Crown Range Road
Some friction arose yesterday between Mr J A Lee the operator of the Cardrona ski field between Queenstown and Wanaka, and Mr L V Matchett, the Lake County Council works superintendent, when Mr Lee arranged for a contractor to grade snow off the high altitude Crown Range Road without Mr Matchett’s permission.
10 August 1982
New Locks for Road Gates
New locks are being put on the gates across State Highway 89 between Queenstown and Wanaka and the road is to be closed indefinitely.
11 August 1982
Anger at Road Closure
Cardrona Valley runholder Tim Scurr said yesterday his farm had effectively been cut in half by the changing of the locks on gates across State Highway 89.
11 August 1982
Limitations known
A Cardrona ski field owner knew three years ago that he would not get year round access across the Crown Range.
11 August 1982
$500,000 Cost to Keep Crown Range Open
The cost of trying to keep the Crown Range highway between Queenstown and Wanaka open on a year-round basis could be $500,000
19 August 1982
Crown Range Road to Stay Closed Says LCC
While the controversy over the Crown Range road reached a peak last week the Lake County Council’s works superintendent, Mr Les Matchett remained steadfast in his claims that the road would remain closed until conditions improved.
19 August 1982
Residents Discuss Highway Closure
Cardrona residents turned out in force last week to discuss the condition of State Highway 89 which runs through their valley, and the closure of the road this week.
16 September 1982
Wanaka ratepayers’ needs more urgent
The Wanaka Community Council should show less aptitude to betray themselves as “Alice in Wonderland” over the Crown Range Road issue, according to Mr JC Aspinall, a Wanaka ratepayer and former member of the Mt Aspiring Park Board.
16 September 1982
Council Working to Resolve Situation
The Lake County Council will initiate a number of courses of action to clarify and hopefully resolve the conflict of interests and confusion wich occurred this winter regarding State Highway 89 (Crown Range) and access to Cardrona Skifield.
17 February 1983
Road too bad for school bus
The poor condition of State Highway 89 between Wanaka and Cardrona is jeopardising the school bus service. The operator, Mr Martin Curtis, said “if the road isn’t graded very soon, I’ll take the school bus off.”
10 March 1983
Aim to Establish Policy for Crown Range
Lake County Council representatives will further discuss winter conditions on the Crown Range, high altitude route between Queenstown and Wanaka with Mr Rod Carstens, the Ministry of Works and Development’s resident engineer in Alexandra, with the aim of establishing a future policy for the road.
19 May 1983
Crown Range Closure Illegal
State Highway 89, the high altitude link between Wanaka and Queenstown, is not likely to be closed this winter for safety reasons.
22 July 1983
Crown Range road to be kept open all year
Public pressure has persuaded the Lake County Council and the National Roads Board to keep the Crown Range road between Wanaka and Queenstown open all year. The decision follows a campaign led by the owner of Cardrona ski field, Mr John Lee, and supported by the tourist industry and local ratepayers.
4 August 1983
Council told – ‘keep Crown road open’
The Lake County Council has been told to ensure that State Highway 89 over the Crown Range is kept open this winter. The instruction has come from the Ministry of Works and Development which will pay the council for doing the job.
15 September 1983
NRB Asks for Report on Upgrading Road
The controversial future of State highway 89 (Crown Range) between Queenstown and Wanaka could take on a new aspect following a recent move by the National Roads Board.
October 1983?
Ministry recommends Crown Range improvements
The Crown Range road may be greatly improved, if a recommendation by the Ministry of Works and Development in Alexandra is adopted
1 November 1985
Crown Range road upkeep still problem
The Crown Range road – between Wanaka and Arrowtown – will remain open during winter months but the question of how to upgrade and maintain the road has not be solved.