Hobbiton applies to increase tourist numbers despite infrastructure cracks

Saturday, 12 January 2019

Hobbiton's increasing tourist numbers are impacting Matamata's rural roads.

More than 3000 wide-eyed Tolkien fans can step through The Shire in a day.

During Hobbiton Movie Set's peak season, the rolling hills of Buckland Rd can be seen dotted with earth-green tour buses, campervans holding camera-toting tourists and cars with navigation systems stuck on the windscreens.

But it is how the tourists arrive and depart from the iconic destination in Matamata that is beginning to leave a mark on not only the tarmac.

Hobbiton is applying to change its resource consent to more than double the number of visitors it sees annually, from 300,000 to 650,000, following breaches in the 2016-2017 year which saw 552,000 visitors flood into Matamata. It's also seeking to establish overnight camping and accommodation.

* Serious crash on popular intersection prompts call for roundabout

* Residents at wits' end over deadly intersection**

Around 92 per cent of visitors access Hobbiton by travelling along the eastern end of Buckland Road from Puketutu Road. The eastern end of Buckland Road was improved in 2013 to allow for the increased traffic flows to the site.

The movie set is New Zealand's third largest tourist destination, attracting approximately 17 per cent of international visitors and estimated to bring in $78m to the Matamata-Piako district annually.

But Matamata residents are worried more tourists will mean more accidents on their roads.

Annette Conder of Chooky's Auto, a business with the best view of vehicle collisions in Waikato, is so used to crashes on the corner of State Highway 29 and Hopkins Rd that staff have a plan for when they hear the screech of tyres and the subsequent boom.

She insists she doesn't have a problem with Hobbiton but 'the council needs to put the infrastructure in place. Ultimately a roundabout here is the thing that is going to solve this, but we want short-term solutions now.'

In 2016, an American tourist was killed at the intersection, and just weeks ago on December 10, a two-car collision left seven injured. Days later police patrol witnessed a near-miss when tourists turned in front of a truck to enter Hopkins Rd.

Chooky's Auto owner Annette Conder is fed up with the amount of fatal car accidents and near misses occurring right on her doorstep.

On January 3 local man Steve May captured dashcam footage where a person driving a rental car turned onto Hopkins Rd in the wrong lane.

Matamata police Sergeant Ryan Johnston said there were many crashes involving tourists due to drivers being unfamiliar with the rural roads, as well as SH29 being a 100km/h high traffic flow road involving turning vehicles.

'The big concern is out on these highways. A small mistake can have massive consequences,' he said.

Johnston said police have no issues with the majority of tourist drivers in Matamata but Matamata-Piako Mayor Jan Barnes said she has been 'very vocal' in her concerns regarding the intersection.

SH29 and Hopkins Rd is the route most tourists take to reach Hobbiton. It is a 'hot spot' for crashes, Matamata Police say.

For the Waikato region, the most vulnerable areas need to take priority, and that's where the money goes,' she said. 'We work closely with Russell Alexander, CEO of Hobbiton and his staff, to ensure all visitors heading to and leaving Hobbiton are doing so safely.'

Council's chief executive Don McLeod said it was working with Hobbiton to find a resolution to its consent breaches.

'Rings Scenic Tours have voluntarily contributed to road safety works to improve the safety of our roads in the vicinity of Hobbiton as well as actively working with us to amend the District Plan to include a Development Concept Plan for Hobbiton.'

Matamata man Steve May caught this shocking near-miss with a tourist driver at Matamata's notorious State Highway 29 and Hopkins Rd intersection.

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism chief executive Jason Dawson said Hobbiton had invested many years with the Matamata-Piako District Council and NZ Transport Agency to improve its travel and arrival routes.

'Their reputation is rock-solid as an operator, and they deliver a world-class, professional experience to the thousands of visitors daily.

'It is sad to hear about any near miss or vehicle accident travelling anywhere in our region, and particularly if it involves an overseas traveller or one of our key tourist attractions,' he said.

Hobbiton Movie Set chief executive Russell Alexander said it took road safety very seriously and was concerned to hear of the recent incidents.

'Our top priority is the safety of our local community and visitors to our region, and we are continuing to work with the Matamata-Piako District Council and with NZTA to improve safety on the roads in our region.

'Many improvements to signage have already been made over the past 12 months,' he said.

'The tourism industry take any accident seriously … We will continue to do our part to keep New Zealand roads safe for all.'

The hearing for the Development Concept Plan for Hobbiton will take place early in 2019. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Hobbiton in numbers:

3,500 visitors per day in peak season

2,084 vehicle trips per day

552,000 visitors in 2016/2017

$78 million economic benefit

92.5 per cent of visitors travel the eastern end of Buckland Rd from Puketutu Rd