Communities to benefit from outdoor access funding

Media release
1 July 2011

Communities to benefit from outdoor access funding

Eighteen projects designed to enhance access to New Zealand’s great outdoors have been awarded funding through the Walking Access Commission’s Enhanced Access Fund.

More than 40 organisations across New Zealand applied for a slice of the $230,000 made available in this year’s funding round. The fund contributes to the Commission's goal of free, certain, enduring and practical walking access to the outdoors.

New Zealand Walking Access Commission Board Chairman John Forbes said 2011 grant recipients had submitted strong applications requesting funding for projects ranging from bridges and track extensions to maps and booklets.

“The list of successful applicants covers a wide range of groups from across New Zealand, from Northland to Otago, and all have strong community support.”

The project that won the largest grant ($40,000) in this year’s funding round was the 11km Kokako Track, which will link Retaruke and Crotons Road in Ruapehu District and forms part of the national Te Araroa pathway.

Other projects receiving funding support of $20,000 or more were a 20-metre footbridge to enhance access to the Brynderwyn Ranges, near Whangarei ($23,000), a bridge providing improved access to the Old Ghost Road in the north west of the South Island ($21,500) and a walkway to the Rangi-houa/Pilot Hill Heritage Reserve, near Wairoa in northern Hawke’s Bay ($20,000).

Mr Forbes said many of the projects required agreement, consents and permissions from private land owners, local councils and iwi.

"We look forward to the completion of these projects so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy improved access to the outdoors and the vast array of recreational activities it supports.”

The 2011 round of the Enhanced Access Fund is the second run by the Commission in the exercise of its responsibilities under the Walking Access Act 2008. It follows a successful 2010 round, in which twelve projects received funding.

Among those that have been completed are the Pahi Peninsula Walkway in Northland, the Lake Hill Track near Canterbury’s Lake Coleridge and Dalton’s Track near the Pelorus Bridge in Marlborough.

ENDS

2011 Enhanced Access Fund grant recipients

Northland

Bridge to Brynderwyn Ranges - Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust ($23,000)
Funding for construction of a 20-metre-long foot bridge enabling access over unformed road giving access to the south side of the Brynderwyn Ranges, near Whangarei.

Lake Ngatu Walkway upgrade - The Bushland Trust ($14,898)
Funding to upgrade the Lake Ngatu Walkway, north of Kaitaia. The improvements will make the walkway more accessible and increase its use.

Paparoa Pahi Walkway- Progressive Paparoa Inc. ($1,484)
Funding to rebuild a section of the Paparoa Peninsula Walkway, in Northland, that was damaged in a storm.

Bay of Plenty

Waihi Pukehina Estuary Foreshore Walkway - Pukehina Ratepayers Assoc. ($10,000)
Funding to assist construction of a boardwalk and bridges on the Waihi Pukehina Estuary Foreshore Walkway, north of Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty.

Waikato

Signage for walking and cycling tracks - Waikato River Trails Trust ($10,000)
Funding for signage to show access to Waikato River Trails Trust walking and cycling trails.

Taranaki

Sefton Track - Okato Development Trust ($750)
Funding of tools to be used in the maintenance of the Sefton Track, 20km from New Plymouth. The track is a popular walk accessing the beach resort of Okura.

Central Plateau

Kokako Track - Te Araroa Trust ($40,000)
Funding for the development of the Kokako Track, which will link Retaruke and Crotons Road in the Ruapehu District. The track will form part of the national Te Araroa pathway.

Hawke’s Bay

Rangi-houa/Pilot Hill access - Wairoa Young Achievers Trust ($20,000)
Funding to enable completion of a walkway that will improve access to the Rangi-houa/Pilot Hill area, near Wairoa in northern Hawke’s Bay. The area was once a popular local reserve and observation point for locals and visitors.

River access signs and pamphlets – Hawke’s Bay Fish and Game Council ($8,750)
Funding for signs and pamphlets to facilitate general public access to rivers in the Hawke’s Bay.

Wellington

Thompson Gully Reserve - Keep Porirua Beautiful ($10,000)
Funding for signage and construction of an access-way from Porirua’s Mungavin Avenue to a track through the nearby Thompson Gully Reserve.

West Coast

Old Ghost Road - Mohikinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust ($21,500)
Funding for construction of a key bridge on the Old Ghost Road, on the West Coast of the South Island.

Powerhouse to Black’s Point Walkway - Inangahua Tourism Promotions Inc. ($8,000)
Funding to assess the suitability of an existing tunnel that could improve access to walkways at Black’s Point, near Reefton. The tunnel would provide a practical link between Reefton and a historic walkway complex through old goldfields in the Black’s Point area.

Canterbury

Pegasus Bay Walkway - Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust ($14,777)
Funding to repair the Pegasus Bay Walkway, north of Christchurch. The walkway was damaged in the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake.

Otago

Purakuanui Inlet Track - Purakanui Amenities Society Inc. ($12,875)
Funding to assist restoration of the iconic Purakuanui Inlet Track, north east of Dunedin.

Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway Extension - Glenorchy Community Assoc. ($10,000)
Funding for a walkway extension on the Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway. The walkway loops through wetlands and construction of footbridges will make it more accessible.

National

Recreational Forestry Walking Access Web Resource - NZ Wood ($12,500)
Funding to assist development of a web resource that will outline access to forestry land in New Zealand.

Managing Coastal Development – A Community Guide - Environmental Defence Society Inc. ($6,000)
Funding to assist the development of a chapter about public access to and along New Zealand’s coast in the upcoming Managing Coastal Development – A Community Guide booklet.

Maps: Te Araroa Guidebook - Te Araroa Trust ($5,750)
Funding for the development of maps for the Te Araroa pathway guidebook.

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