Interest growing in cycle trail

Interest from Southland and Otago organisations in becoming part of the national cycle trail network is gaining momentum.

More than 20 people representing most local bodies in the area and also including Adventure Southland, the Wakatipu Trails Trust, Upper Clutha Trails and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust met national cycle trail programme manager John Dunn in Alexandra last week.

Mr Dunn is providing advice and assisting applicants submitting proposals for funding under phase two of the project.

Proposals for the national $50 million cycleway project will be sent to the Tourism Ministry next month and decisions on their feasibility would be made in February.

Officials were also touring proposed cycleways last week.

Work on the first phase – the seven "quick start" trails – is under way, although the feasibility study on the Southland-Queenstown Lakes project starting at Walter Peak will not be completed until next month.

Mr Dunn said southern proposals remained under wraps but the Queenstown to Kingston "Around the Mountain" cycleway was one of the seven multimillion-dollar routes chosen by the Government in July to be built as priorities.

Plans for a network of nine trails from Wanaka to the Pacific were also gathering momentum and construction had started on a $175,000 section between Albert Town and the Red Bridge.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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