Kiwithrottlejockey
Admin Staff
XNC2 GOD
Posts: 32250
Having fun in the hills!
|
Cycleway a real uphill battleBy WALT DICKSON - Wairarapa News | 9:28AM - Wednesday, 02 May 2012SECTIONS of steep terrain are not the only hurdle facing backers of a cycle route through the Tararua Ranges.
A hefty construction bill could derail the proposed cycleway altogether.
Consultants Opus presented a scoping study on the Tararua Traverse to the Tararua District Council last month.
The 86 kilometre cycleway would run from Shannon to Eketahuna and involve building a new hut near the midway point. It would cost $3.5 million to build.
The Tararua Traverse would generate an estimated $506,000 in economic activity for the surrounding area, according to Opus, and cost $60,000 per year to maintain. It would include sections of "extremely steep and challenging terrain" and "huge vistas".
Opus estimates 3000 people would use the track a year on average, though that number could increase when the route became better known.
Critical to the route getting the green light is the support of the Tararua and Horowhenua district councils, who would likely be lumped with the bulk of the construction cost.
Tararua Mayor Roly Ellis says his council is not opposed to the idea but in the current economic climate it is unaffordable.
There needs to be considerable funding from other parties, such as the Government, for the project to get the go ahead, Mr Ellis says.
Just how much of the forecasted economic return would come back to the Tararua District, in particular Eketahuna, is also a very grey area, he says.
There isn't the infrastructure of motels and backpackers in Eketahuna or the southern part of the district to cash in on any tourist influx, Mr Ellis says.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/wairarapa-news/6841671/Cycleway-a-real-uphill-battle
|
If you aren't living life on the edge, you're taking up too much space!   |
|
|
|
|
|
