Gibbston river trail saved by fundraiser auction

A $1.4 million Gibbston river trail has been saved from financial collapse thanks in part to a few good bottles of red.

The Gibbston Valley Community Association raised more than $25,000 at an auction on Friday night, securing enough funding to start building the long-awaited trail.

Association chairwoman Susan Stevens said that with a $50,000 grant set to expire today, it had been a close call.

"Tomorrow is the big day for funding, so fingers crossed," she said.

At the beginning of last week, Ms Stevens was $45,000 short of the $1.4 million needed and with the deadline looming she was worried four years of fundraising would come to nothing.

But with the Queenstown Lakes District Council committing $15,000 on Wednesday and with another $10,000 from private sponsors, it all came down to the Friday night auction.

"It was absolutely fantastic.

"I think everyone had a wonderful time."

The auction featured everything from a tent to a Peter Beadle painting and, of course, a lot of wine.

Sixteen Gibbston wineries contributed to the auction, including a 2009 Gibbston Red Trail, a one-off pinot noir blend made for the auction.

Ms Stevens was the most enthusiastic bidder, paying about $8000 for a Peter Beadle painting.

With the money secured it was hoped the 8.5km trail, which will run alongside the Kawarau River, would be finished by December.

ben.heather@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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