Wilderness trail at money roadblock
A great ride six years in the making on the West Coast now faces a funding shortfall, preventing the final section from being completed.
The Westland District Council reported it was $350,000 short to complete the last section of the West Coast Wilderness Trail.
The 139-kilometre route is marketed as a four-day cycling adventure that traverses dense rainforest and passes waterways from Greymouth through Kumara and Hokitika to Ross.
Outstanding sections of the cycle path were due to be completed in mid-August, allowing the track to become one of 22 Great Rides on the NZ Cycle Trail.
In a report to the council’s September meeting, district assets group manager David Inwood said a date for completing the track was unknown because of the financial shortfall. Five bridges remain incomplete, including two on the Hokitika-Kaniere tramway and three on the Mahinapua section, south of Hokitika. Work recently started in the area after a helicopter crew dropped off gear and equipment. A conveyor belt across the Department of Conservation walkway bridge was also installed.
The Mahinapua cycleway is closed until month’s end as work continues, but a recent tender for bridges had not been awarded because to the money shortfall.
Inwood said the project’s total deficit depended on the final completion costs of other projects still under construction.
‘‘Discussions are under way with [the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] about this funding gap and project completion. The [general] elections are impacting on any government commitments,’’ he said.
The council was unable to respond to questions about why there was a funding shortfall before deadline.
The Greymouth to Hokitika leg of the trail opened in November 2013.