Olympic cyclist Sarah Ulmer and Deputy Prime Minister Bill
English lead the first group of cyclists over the Southern
Discoveries bridge near Arrowtown following the opening of
the Queenstown Trail yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
It was wet, cold and windy, but more than 300 keen
Queenstown cycle enthusiasts turned out for the opening of the
Queenstown Trail near Arrowtown yesterday.
While Prime Minister John Key grinned and greeted children
and adults, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English donned lycra
and rode over the trail's Southern Discoveries bridge.
The $5.4 million 110km trail has been three years in the
making and yesterday was opened by Mr Key with hundreds of
supporters eagerly watching in the rain.
The trail is part of the Government's $50 million nationwide
cycle trail initiative, and he commended the Queenstown
Trails Trust and its contributors for raising $3 million to
match the Government's $2 million contribution.
Asked whether the money could have been better spent
elsewhere, Mr Key said the trails had created 882 jobs during
construction and would lure tourists to the area.
"It's a great way of producing jobs. We know the tourists
come and want things to do and we know cycling is hugely
popular. ... I just think it will be a great thing for New
Zealand."
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