Trail plans progressing
Construction of a major new Queenstown trail could begin as soon as this summer, if funds can be raised.
The 4km off-road commuter trail would link neighbourhoods in the Southern Corridor, including Hanley's Farm and Jack's Point, to the Kawarau Falls bridge and the trail network and beyond.
Queenstown Trails has submitted resource consent plans. The trail would run alongside SH6 from the bridge, crossing Peninsula Road and on towards Stone Cottage, where it would veer right, across private land skirting the lower slopes of Peninsula Hill.
Trails boss Mark 'Willy' Williams says it will cost about $1.5 million.
"We've got some funding from the Central Lakes Trust and had applied for more from the Great Rides fund, but unfortunately we learned a couple of days ago that hasn't been successful.
"So, we've got about half a million dollars we need to raise and are pursuing a few different avenues."
Willy says the landowner has been brilliant.
"They've recognised the importance of it, because that road isn't a safe place to cycle. It will provide a pretty well-used connection, so we're keen to get it going."
The Peninsula Road crossing still has to be designed, with New Zealand Transport Agency considering traffic lights at the busy junction.
Aussie tourists Nicole Ng and sisters Anna and Julie Wang inadvertently found themselves e-biking on the treacherous SH6 roadside, on the route the proposed trail, after taking a wrong turn at Kawarau Falls bridge on Sunday.
They'd dismounted to cross Peninsula Road. "It was hard going," Ng says. They said they'd be in favour of a proper trail, even though, on this occasion it would have meant they carried on in the wrong direction.
In other planning news, NZSki has applied for consent to partially cover the rear deck at The Remarkables base building, and also upgrade its maintenance building.
