More than 130 submissions oppose cycle trail

The Southland District Council has received more than 130 submissions opposing the proposed $7 million Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, including 34 from overseas anglers worried about its impact on remote rivers.

Construction of the trail is scheduled to start early next year.

The group behind the trail has sought resource consent from the Southland District Council, Environment Southland, Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Department of Conservation last month.

More than 200 submissions had been received by the Southland District Council - with strong opposition from the fishing fraternity. Southland District Council project manager Mike Barnett said changes had been made to the proposal and the January hearing would "sort out the rest".

Mr Barnett said the changes were minor and based around "minimising the visual impact and environmental impact of the track".

The overseas' objectors appeared to hold the view the valley should only be used for fishing, "but it's public land".

Mr Barnett said there was a lot of support for the trail and there was a "definite demographic market showing interest in coming to Queenstown" to use the trail.

"The biggest issue is for fishermen, but not for other people.

The New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers, the Upper Clutha Angling Club, Otago Fish and Game, and Fish and Game New Zealand were among those who did not agree with the proposal in its current form because it would disturb recreation, particularly angling.

The Fiordland Tramping and Outdoor Recreation Club opposed the formation and operation of the trail through the Eyre Mountains Conservation area and suggested the alternative route through the Mararoa River.

The 184km cycle track is part of Prime Minister John Key's $50 million cycleway initiative and would begin at Walter Peak, run past the Mavora Lakes, Lumsden and would follow State Highway 6 to Kingston.

In September, Mr Barnett predicted the trail would be open for commercial use by November 2012 and once complete, would take four or five days to ride.

The track had been planned for five years and would be built as a moderate-level exercise and recreation track.

Submissions of support were sent in from Southern District Health Board, Mossburn Community Development Area, Real Journeys and Garston School, while the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and Land Information New Zealand remained neutral.

The council was waiting for further information from Mr Barnett before it named a date for the hearing, which would likely take place jointly with Environment Southland, which had made a neutral submission.

The council's resource management planner Roy Hammond said there was "little chance" the hearing would take place this year, but would hopefully begin late January.