Growing concerns about compromised ease of access by recreational users of Milford Sound has prompted a series of public meetings around Southland by the newly-formed Fiordland Recreation and Conservation Trust.

In Milford Sound's quieter days, recreational users like Ian Carrick, of Lochiel, said it was easy to drive up with a boat and enjoy a day's fishing. 

But with the astronomical increase in tourists visiting the fiord in recent years, the Fiordland Recreation and Conservation Trust has formed in an attempt to advocate for the interests of the region's recreational users.

Mr Carrick, the trust spokesman, said the trust also saw itself as a vehicle to provide a collective voice that authorities like the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Environment Southland could 

liaise with.

"Our idea was that maybe we could form a group and we have a mandate from all those other groups and individuals to represent them, that it'd be far easier [for authorities] to liaise with one group."

Mr Carrick said the trust was concerned around ease of access into the fiord, such as parking for boat trailers and the need to upgrade and future proof its boat ramp, which was used a lot by different operators and users.

"We'd love for it [the boat ramp] to be lengthened, we love it to be widened. But everyone's got to come on board, especially the commercial operators as well."

Already the trust had begun discussions with DOC and commercial operators on these issues.

The trust also wanted to advocate for a building at Deep Water Basin commonly referred to as the "White House". The toilet, shower, and meeting room facility was initially built by commercial fishermen decades ago, and given its usefulness and the precious real estate it sits on, the trust wants the building to remain and potentially upgrade it. 

"Trying to build anything new in there is really difficult in terms of requirements. If something's already there, we just want to keep it."

The trust will be holding three public meetings over July and August, starting in Te Anau next week on July 10 at 7pm at the Te Anau Club, followed by duplicate meetings in Invercargill on July 25 in the North Lounge of Stadium Southland at 7pm, and in Gore on August 1 in the McKay Room at the Gore Town and Country Club at 7pm.