Wheels in motion on Tairua trail
‘‘If it wasn’t going to be as hard as it was I probably would never have started but that’s like a lot of things in life.’’
Gary Fowler could not believe it when resource consent was granted this month for the second stage of the Pauanui Tairua Trail.
It’s been a dream project since he announced it to a crowd of 1500 at the Concert in the Orchard 21⁄ years ago, an event he and his wife Ann ran for 10 years which raised $150,000 for local volunteer services.
Since then Fowler has been told countless times his dream was unachievable.
But he believes the constant bureaucratic knock-back emails has hardened him up.
‘‘If it wasn’t going to be as hard as it was I probably would never have started but that’s like a lot of things in life,’’ he said.
The earthworks begun this month for the 3 kilometre boardwalk beginning at the existing 1.6km boardwalk started by Ian Hopper 10 years ago.
From this point, a 50 metre boardwalk will lead to a bridge across the Tangitarori Stream, and will follow the scenic harbour around Pa Point to exit at Duck Creek, making the trail 5.6km in total by the completion of stage two.
The long-term vision is to construct a cycleway for cyclists and walkers to get from Pauanui to Tairua in safety and enjoy the beauty of the Tairua River.
Fowler was one of the many who was introduced to Pauanui via the campground that used to sit on the harbour. ‘‘Sadly this introduction to our beautiful harbour is no
Gary Fowler hopes to see cyclists passing by his property along the Tairua River in the not too distant future. longer available,’’ he said.
Breaking the whole project into stages has been a key to achieving what they have done so far.
‘‘It was much better to start and do it piece by piece and that’s what we’ve set out to do and that’s what we have achieved with the consent,’’ he said.
‘‘This is only stage two, all we’re pursuing and the rest of it is still just an idea, a part of my dream.’’
The trustees of the Hikuai District Trust, the governing body behind the project have been the key ingredients to getting this far, Fowler said.
A pest control programme to protect native endangered birds such as the fern bird (matata) is in its early stages and is run by trust member Claire de Thierry.
Ngati Hei and Ngati Maru have been great in the processes, Fowler said.
The trust is halfway there to reaching their $200,000 budget for stage two.
So far the Tairua Pauanui Community Board, Pub Charity, Trust Waikato, and Rayonier Matariki Forests have all donated.
Fowler is optimistic about the future of the project.
‘‘One day I’m going to see the cyclists coming up and down the river.’’
To learn more visit pauanuitairuatrail.org.nz.