Cycleway to be a huge boost for Northland

A planned 85.6km coast-to-coast cycle track from Horeke to the Bay of Islands could return more than $25 million to $28m to the local economy in the first five years of operation.

The cycleway could also create up to 80 jobs in the construction phase and about 100 fulltime jobs in five years when it is fully operational.

These are some of the findings of a feasibility study and business plan lodged with the tourism minister's office.

A decision on government funding for the project from the national cycleway programme announced last year is expected to be known in the next eight weeks.

Western Community Board chairwoman and cycleway advocate Tracy Dalton says an early funding decision is critical if the project is to be fully operational by the target date of August 2011 and capitalise on tourism business associated with the Rugby World Cup.

Mrs Dalton says there is far more than track construction involved in the project.

Service providers such as accommodation, food and beverage, hire companies and a range of ancillary services need to know when the track will be available so they can start planning.

The cycleway also needs to proceed as one project if returns to the economy and job opportunities are to be maximised.

"It can still be staged, but the returns will not be fully realised until the full 86km link is operational," she says.

The Far North District Council is providing the initial framework for the project.

But the intention is that a community charitable trust and governance group will eventually drive the project.

"The coast-to-coast concept, based in the existing rail corridor between Okaihau, Kaikohe and Kawakawa, has captured the imagination of local people from all backgrounds and there is a real enthusiasm to get on with construction."

Stakeholders, including landowners, iwi and local trusts, are keen to start clearing the corridor for the construction phase.

The community board is prepared to take a deputation to Wellington to press its case for funding.

New job and business opportunities are coming to light almost weekly, such is the level of interest in the cycleway.

"This is the largest single investment the government has made in the mid-North area in decades and potentially is the stimulus to the economy that has been previously lacking."

Mrs Dalton says the project will be a catalyst for commercial operations and development beyond the Horeke-Opua trail, including the potential for boat and waka excursions and maritime related tours and facilities on the Hokianga Harbour.

The cycleway will connect a rail corridor between Okaihau and Kawakawa with a railway the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust is restoring between Kawakawa and Opua.

The western end of the trail will cross farmland in the Utakura Valley to connect Okaihau and Horeke.

The board is in talks with landowners, including On Track and local farmers about the project and has established communication lines with private and public sector funding agencies.

It will continue consulting communities during the final planning and construction phases.

The feasibility study has concluded that the project could be self-sustaining and show an annual surplus by 2016.

Mrs Dalton says the feasibility analysis had confirmed the economic and labour-generating potential of the project which the working party had first envisaged and she was confident a very good case had been made for full government funding support.

"It's now in the hands of the minister," she says.

- © Fairfax NZ News