The Department of Conservation has extended the deadline for public submissions on two controversial South Island tourism projects.
Southland Conservator Barry Hanson says the decision was made because there had been so much public interest in the Milford Dart Tunnel and the Milford monorail projects it was decided to extend the deadline.
Both projects aim to shorten the travel time between Queenstown and Milford Sound.
He said many people have expressed concern about the applications and they need more time to consider them.
Public responses on the tunnel now need to be with the department by 20 February and on the monorail proposal by 19 March - an extension of 15 working days for each.
There have been 120 submissions on the tunnel idea and 11 on the monorail project.
