Tribute Paid to Wakatipu Landowners by Queenstown Trails Trust

Twenty four Wakatipu landowners were acknowledged by Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha-Southland MP Hon Bill English at a special function at Amisfield Winery in Queenstown on Friday night (September 21) for their contribution towards making the 110+km Queenstown Trail a reality.

The landowners were presented with Certificates of Appreciation for providing easements in perpetuity over their land, ensuring the Queenstown Trail will be a spectacular community asset, opening up previously inaccessible walking and cycling trails throughout the lower Wakatipu Basin.

Mr English referred to the importance of publicly recognising the landowners’ contribution.

“It is a pleasure to acknowledge the role of the landowners in the Queenstown Trail,” he said adding that “their generosity in giving up something puts the responsibility on the rest of us to make sure that generosity is respected.”

He considered that the Wall of Recognition being established on the Queenstown Trail, recognising both landowners and sponsors, was an excellent concept serving as a permanent reminder of the trail’s supporters.

The Queenstown Trail is a joint initiative of the Queenstown Trails Trust, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the New Zealand Cycle Trail project and has been funded through the support of national and local government, community trusts, private sponsorship and community fundraising.

Queenstown Trails Trust CEO Kaye Parker considers the three-year development of the trail, combined with the intensive fundraising programme, has been a showcase for what a small community like Queenstown can achieve.

Ms Parker confirmed the Trust is fundraising for the final $195,000 required to complete the $5.4m trail and hoped the target will be reached in time for the official opening on Thursday October 18 2012.

The Queenstown Trail is one of the flagship trails in New Zealand, being just one of 18 projects in the country earmarked as a New Zealand Great Ride. It covers 110+kms of diverse terrain backdropped by exceptional alpine scenery and connecting three main hubs –Central Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston. It crosses three major rivers, the Shotover, Kawarau and the Arrow, and tracks follow alongside both Lake Wakatipu and Lake Hayes.

Eight bridges, of which five are newly constructed, are included on the trail as well as a large tunnel beneath State Highway 6 which accesses the original road from Queenstown and leads to the Gibbston River Trail.

“We believe the Queenstown Trail will be an important catalyst for tourism and economic development in the area,” said Ms Parker. “The opportunities it offers are outstanding and Queenstown is expected to become a biking mecca for both locals and visitors.”

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