Tararua cycleway study gets go-ahead

A cycleway between Shannon and Eketahuna, estimated to be worth $1 million a year to the towns' economies, is a step closer, despite the Government refusing to pay for the tourist attraction.

This week, the Horowhenua District Council gave the green light for a feasibility study to be done over summer on the basis that other stakeholder groups would come on board and front up with some cash.

The council was forced to call for backers after the Government rejected its proposal to cut out a route over the Tararua Range.

Only 13 out of 39 applicants nationwide were granted money from the Ministry of Tourism to establish cycle routes. Horowhenua was one of the councils to miss out.

Creating a national cycleway was the brainchild of the job creation summit in 2009 and has been strongly advocated by Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key – also the Minister of Tourism – has widely spoken about his plan for the New Zealand Cycle Trail Project and his intention for a cycling route to run "from Kaitaia to Bluff".

Initially $50m was allocated to the project, which in turn would create jobs.

However, Mr Key's office would not comment on why Horowhenua's request for funding had been denied.

Labour's tourism spokesman Kelvin Davis said the Government should fund cycle routes in heartland New Zealand like Horowhenua, rather than established tourist hotspots, to open up business opportunities for small communities.

The Horowhenua District Council is hoping Government coffers can be tapped into once the $65,260 feasibility study is finished and costs are more concrete, strategic and corporate services manager David Clapperton said.

A range of aspects that need to be investigated include the need for accommodation, the frequency of use and potential spinoffs, as well as landowners' access, which have not been canvassed in any detail.

The 40-kilometre route, dubbed The Missing Link Cycleway, could be tackled in one day and was expected to attract at least 10,000 tourists each year, Mr Clapperton said.

If it went ahead, the 2.5-metre-wide track would cross 24km of the Tararua Forest Park and farmland on the Wairarapa side of the Tararuas.

The forest park offers breathtaking scenery but its elevation and location mean it is subject to rapid weather changes.

The council would approach the Eketahuna Community Board before following up with iwi, the Department of Conservation, Tararua District Council, farmers and local tourism groups.

"The support to date has been very, very positive," he said.

Horowhenua District Council can part-fund the feasibility study through its Economic Development budget, Development Planning budgets and Financial Contributions for Parks and Reserves.

- © Fairfax NZ News