Construction of two cycle trails between Alexandra and
Lawrence is progressing steadily, with more money uplifted
from funders and hopes to have some sections open to the
public early next year.
With a budget of $3.4 million, $2 million of which came from
the Government, construction of the 34km Roxburgh Gorge Cycle
Trail between Alexandra and the Roxburgh dam started just
over a year ago.
Recently, with government funds running low, Central Lakes
Trust and the Otago Community Trust granted a total of
$670,000.
Trail trust chairman Stephen Jeffery said that was not
because there was a time limit on the government funds, but
because they decided to use that money before approaching
other funders.
The project was also costing more than expected.
He said contractors were within their tender budgets but the
entire project was not running to budget because of costly
realignment issues at the Alexandra end of the trail. The
contractor was due back there in about a week and it was
hoped that section, about 10km, would be complete by April.
A 12km section at the Roxburgh end was almost finished. Only
grading, gravelling and signage had to be completed before it
could be open to locals, although that was not expected to
happen until early next year, he said.
Once the trails were complete, jetties would be built in the
Roxburgh Gorge so cyclists and walkers could catch a boat
between the two sections of the trail, as the trust still did
not have permission from the Miller family to build the
centre section. Construction of the 73km Clutha Gold Cycle
Trail from the Roxburgh dam to Lawrence, on the opposite side
of the river to the Roxburgh Gorge trail, began at the start
of this year.
Trail trust chairman Rod Peirce said most of the trail was
under construction and was within the $5.5 million budget,
$3.8 million of which came from the Government.
The 13km section from the dam to Pinders Pond was complete
except for a bridge over the Teviot River, and it was hoped
that could open in the new year.
Construction from the Lawrence end was now about 2km short of
Beaumont and construction on another section, from Millers
Flat to the Talleburn River, was due to start soon.
Both chairmen said they had hoped the trails would be further
along by now.
Mr Jeffery said there were ''things thrown at us that slowed
us down ... things beyond our control''.
Mr Peirce said the Clutha Gold trail was also held up by
small things but he was ''extremely pleased'' with how it was
looking.
It was hoped the trail would be completed and open by next
April, although ''with an [almost] 80km-long trail, it's hard
to be definitive''.
Mr Jeffery said the Roxburgh Gorge trail trust would be
''trying to hurry things along'' now.
The trails are two of the 18 ''Great Rides'' in the
Government's New Zealand Cycle Trail project.
sarah.marquet@odt.co.nz
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