Tasman cycleway to get an airing

A visionary plan for a 200-kilometre cycle route loop in the Nelson region will be discussed by Tasman District councillors Thursday.

Two Nelson businessmen, Peter Bone and Steve Waring, are behind the Tasman Bay Cycle Route, which proposes a loop, starting and ending in Nelson and passing through Motueka, Tapawera, Brightwater and Wakefield.

Mr Bone was reluctant to talk about the plan in detail this morning, but said because the proposal was in its very initial stages, its exact route had not been mapped out. Local landowners had not been spoken to about the idea, and neither had the public.

"We are keen to convince local and central government that this is a good idea."

A more detailed plan would be presented to the Tasman District Council in six weeks, and public meetings would be held on the plan in the next month, he said.

A report on the cycleway contained in a council agenda for tomorrow's meeting estimates up to 30,000 people would visit the trail annually, bringing up to $42 million into the local economy.

The success of the Central Otago Rail Trail inspired the men to come up with their proposal.

There are already plans for a cycle rail trail to be developed in the Nelson region, and Mr Bone said the loop that he and Mr Waring were proposing could become a critical part of this.

Council engineering manager Peter Thomson said the rail trail had been supported in principle by the council's engineering services committee last year, but questions remained on how to make it happen and how to fund it.

The council's draft 10-year plan contained plans for a cycleway between Richmond and Brightwater, which would probably be the first stage of developing the rail trail, he said.

Mr Thomson said plans for the Tasman Bay cycle route were visionary, but fitted into the council's long-term cycleway plans.

The council's walk and cycle plan is contained in the regional land transport strategy, which is currently being reviewed.

- © Fairfax NZ News