Great Taste cycle trail growing quickly

October 2nd, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

Sections of the Tasman Great Taste Trail are being constructed at great pace, with the cycle bridge over the Riwaka River on schedule for completion by the end of the year.

The Coastal $800k Group, which is working to raise the money needed to build the section between Mapua and Kaiteriteri via Motueka, have revealed plans for the Riwaka Bridge design. In their recent newsletter they say that negotiations with land owners are ongoing and the project is still on target for a December opening.

Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust is concerned that, despite their best efforts, there is still a lack of information about the Tasman Great Taste Trail.

"Many people are not aware of how close the trail is to completion, with many sections open and already providing lots of riding experiences from extreme mountain biking to family outing standard," says executive officer Fiona Newey.

"Fund raising is mainly needed to maintain the track and improve some sections up to the standard of the national New Zealand Cycle Trail.

"The cycle trail around the Waimea Inlet is close to completion, with a Plan B to build a boardwalk and avoid delays caused by the bird breeding season." The photo, right, shows construction of the Waimea Inlet boardwalk.

Regarding the Motueka section of the cycle trail, Community Board chairman David Ogilvie says the cycle route through Motueka has been finalised to the point where signage can be organised and sponsors sought to point cyclists into the town centre.

The newsletter says Keep Motueka Beautiful has received funding to upgrade the section of the trail along the Kumaras, damaged by December flooding.

It also says that "local rumour that dogs will be banned from this section of trail are incorrect". (See our story here.)

"Tasman District Council is proposing to create a Tasman's Great Taste Trail Bylaw 2012 to ensure the safety and freedom from nuisance for people using the trail. The proposal includes restrictions where dogs could disturb bird habitats or cause a nuisance when uncontrolled around cyclists and walkers. This is not a 'ban', but could require dogs to be on a leash in some sections."

To help raise local awareness of progress on the trail, the next meeting of the Coastal $800k Group on November 15th will be at the site of the Riwaka Bridge and open to the public.

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