Hauraki Rail Trail to extend to Matamata
Plans are underway to expand the Hauraki Rail Trail, a scenic cycle track, from Te Aroha through to Matamata.
Matamata-Piako mayor Jan Barnes said the rail trail had the potential to boost tourism opportunities.
The Hauraki Rail Trail is a 175km cycle track, in five sections. The trail’s boundary is Kaiaua and Thames in the north, Waihi to the east and Matamata to the south and it’s governed by the Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust.
Its settler councils, who all share funding, include MatamataPiako, Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki and it’s classed as a grade-1 track.
Kopu to Kaiaua leg of the trail is under construction and Te Aroha to Matamata is in the development phase.
Barnes said she hoped the Te Aroha-Matamata stage would begin in the second half of 2018, depending on government funding.
She said a change in government has thrown a spanner in the works, but that funding would be granted.
‘‘We are spade ready and ready to go,’’ said Barnes.
‘‘There are no indicators we are not going to get it.’’
The leg to Matamata will begin from the Te Aroha Domain, where the Paeroa-Te Aroha track ends.
It would run along Old Te Aroha Road onto Mace Road, into Te Aroha West, Manawaru, Tower Rd and end at i-Site.
She said from there they hoped it would continue to Piarere and Hinuera.
Eventually it could link with the Te Awa Ride, incorporating the Karapiro and river trails.
She said NZTA have factored in the cycle track into plans for the new roundabout in Piarere.
She said there have been teething problems with the Paeroa-Te Aroha ride.
It lacked the ‘‘wow factor’’ of Karangahake Gorge, bird life and coast line along other stages of the trail.
However additional landscaping and heritage information can be added after completion.
She said she welcomed ideas from people in the district.
The council was already speaking with people regarding tourism opportunities and linking to bed and breakfasts.
‘‘There are opportunities abounding,’’ she said.