Latest newsletter from the Ministry of Tourism On Monday 27 July, in a speech to local government, Prime Minister John Key announced seven potential cycleway routes that construction could start on this summer.
Of the $50m allocated to the cycleway, $9 million has been earmarked for a ‘Quick Start’.
Mr Key said that the first three large regional clusters were formed by 21 Mayors and Chairpersons in Northland, the Central and Eastern North Island, and the south of the South Island. These clusters, along with the Department of Conservation, have recommended a small number of projects they believe can be started this summer.
The projects that have been selected for ‘Quick Start’ are:
Waikato River Trail
Central North Island Rail Trail (DoC)
Mount Ruapehu to Wanganui (DoC)
St James Great Trail, (DoC)
Hokianga to Opua/Russell
Hauraki Plains Trail and
Southland Around the Mountain Rail Trail.
Maps and track descriptions can be viewed at www.tourism.govt.nz/qstracks.
Questions and Answers on the Quick Start tracks can be viewed at www.tourism.govt.nz/cyclewayqa.
Of the four council nominated trails, funding has only been committed to the completion of further feasibility and evaluation work. A decision on any co-funding of construction will be made once further feasibility information is available.
It is important to note that the Quick Start tracks are not the only potential tracks that we are aware of. We have also received a number of promising proposals from other regions and, alongside the Quick Start work, substantial effort is also going into the establishment of a proposal and assessment framework for the remaining fund. This will be announced within the next couple of months.
The position of Programme Manager NZ Cycleway Project has been advertised, with applications closing Sunday 5pm, 2 August. Full details can be found here.
Kind regards
Cycleway Project Team
Email: cycleway@tourism.govt.nz
Website: http://www.tourism.govt.nz/cycleway
