Local group to promote cycle trail fundraising

February 10th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

Plans for the construction of the Mapua-to-Motueka section of Great Taste Trail cycle path are gaining momentum with the establishment of a local sub-committee to promote and help raise funds this year.

At a meeting in town on Wednesday a dozen people heard of progress on what will be one of New Zealand's major cycle trails, and decided to progress the next step by working together on ideas to raise the $800,000 needed to get a workable off-road path in place as soon as possible. (See our earlier story here.)

The group are convinced that the trail will bring significant amounts of money into the Motueka ward and raise its profile among adventure and leisure tourists. They heard that the Otago Rail Trail is now benefiting central Otago's townships and businesses by $13 million a year, while the as yet incomplete Rotorua trail is reportedly now bringing more income to that town than its forestry.

Members of the group include staff at accountancy firm Milnes Beatson (thanks for the pizzas, chaps, and to Top 10 for the beers and venue), Wilsons Abel Tasman, Abel Tasman Outdoors, iSITE and several tourism providers.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Motueka Valley Association, who are keen to see the following leg of the Tasman trail up to Tapawera eventually built. They are currently talking with landowners about the location of the path along the West Bank of the river (with the road being an early option), and will take part in the work of the Motueka promotion group.

Addressing the Wednesday meeting, Nelson Tasman Cycle Trail Trust's irrepressible executive officer Fiona Newey said the trigger to get going on the Mapua-Motueka leg of the triangular route was the granting of resource consents in December for the construction of the trail beside the Waimea Estuary, linking Richmond to the already complete path along Rabbit Island and ferry crossing to Mapua. (See our earlier story.)

That section is expected to be completed by October this year. Already hundreds of cyclists a day have been travelling from Nelson to Mapua and back using the existing roads and the ferry, and Mapua is now reaping the benefits of the work, with the businesses and residents becoming well engaged with the project.

The section from Mapua to Motueka is expected to run from the township to the bypass road, then beside that road up to the highway underpass already in place near the Gardner Valley Road turnoff, then beside the west side of the bypass to Tasman View Heights, striking out through the forestry areas until it reaches the Moutere Highway near Riverside Cafe, and running into Motueka via Wildman Road.

Once in Motueka, it will probably run along upgraded existing paths down the western side of the Inlet Estuary and then Motueka Quay to the Raumanuka Reserve, back to High Street and on to Riwaka via Lodder Lane.

To make this usable will cost about $800,000 for gravel, engineering works, signage, resource consents and discussions with landowners. To bring it up to full specification will then cost a further $400,000.

The local group heard that funding which had been earmarked from Government was now being diverted to Christchurch, and there was a strategic goal of not relying on Tasman District Council funding (especially with the possibility of council amalgamation), so the money will largely come from fundraising efforts mainly aimed at the large number of businesses and organisations which will benefit from the tourist dollars and the community pride which the project will bring in.

Fiona ran through the fundraising tools already in place and starting to attract interest (and results). These include:

A website which will enable online membership.
A partner scheme to create a network of businesses which offer cycle-friendly products and services, to help set standards and create a professional basis. (View the document and sign up here »)
The sale of virtual trail sections at $40 per 2 metres, which provides several benefits such as certificates and maps.
A Kilometre Club, which buys a kilometre section for $20,000 and on-sells smaller sections to customers and other interested people. (The Mapua business association has already reserved one of these.)
A Food and Beverage Cycle Trail Passport which cyclists will be able to get stamped by participating businesses along the way.
Materials to be used in stands at country fairs and shows this year.
Point-of-sale packages are being developed for participating businesses.

The Motueka promotion group believe that over the coming six months parts of the track which can be cycled on at present will be promoted as part of an awareness programme. Until now the Great Taste Trail has been seen by most in Motueka as a distant pipe-dream, but they hope that soon everyone will know that it could happen within the next one to two years, and understand how it will help make Motueka more attractive and vibrant.

If anyone wants to help the Motueka group with ideas or event assistance, or generally take part in this community initiative, please contact John Kerridge at Milnes Beatson.

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