Few will be affected by the closure of a section of the Pelorus River for filming the first of the Hobbit movies, agencies say.
Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman announced yesterday that production company 3 Foot 7, a subsidiary of cinema giant Warner Brothers, plans to film a scene of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at the river near Pelorus Bridge, 60 kilometres west of Blenheim. The filming, due to take place between December 6 and 16, will mean part of both the river and the Department of Conservation (DOC) campground at the bridge will be closed.
DOC Marlborough Sounds area visitor assets programme manager Mark Nelson said the shooting would be in the campground's off season and he did not think the closure of the river would affect many people at that time of the year.
The biggest effect would be on campervans, he said. "It's not a big imposition on us. The upshot for us, it's not only good for our campground at Pelorus, but it's good for Marlborough as well. The long-term spinoff is getting more to come visit us."
DOC Sounds area manager Roy Grose said this morning 3 Foot 7 would compensate the department for lost revenue.
The amount would most likely be based on earnings from previous years, Mr Grose said.
The powered sites across the bridge would still be open, but were not as scenic as the campground on the Kahikatea Flat.
Marlborough Roads manager Frank Porter said the traffic management plans were yet to be finalised, but he did not foresee any problems.
There would be some trucks and support vehicles parked on State Highway 6, which runs through Pelorus Bridge, during filming.
There would also be some days when the road approaching the bridge would be limited to one lane, but exactly when that would happen was not yet known.
Marlborough District Council resource consents manager Anna Eatherley said the resource consent application was received on September 30 and was still being processed.
The consent was needed because the company wanted to build a temporary wooden structure for the film equipment and that was a non-complying activity.
The structure would be removed once filming finished.
The council had a pre-application meeting with the Queenstown-based Resource Management Act consultant working for 3 Foot 7 to outline what would need to be included, Ms Eatherley said. The consent was non-notified because no-one was really affected by the shooting, she said.
People will not be able to watch beside the set, but it would probably be visible from the walkway of the Pelorus Bridge.
Meanwhile, Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston was buzzing at news of the filming.
"It is fantastic news. Not only do we have the fabulous Marlborough Sounds and world-class wines but we are a location for The Hobbit. That is magic."
There would be long-term tourism opportunities by linking into The Lord of the Rings locations circuit, Ms Johnston said.
The Hobbit films are prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, also filmed in New Zealand.
Tours of The Sound of Music scenes in Austria were popular 46 years later, Ms Johnston said.
"A really strong precedence has been set for tourism. Location guide books were compiled following the Lord of the Rings trilogy that are still really strong sellers.
"People make the pilgrimage to visit the locations of the movies for themselves, as well as going on visitor experiences and daily tours."
- The Marlborough Express
MICHAEL BERRY AND SIMON WONG
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