Excitement over cycleway funding

The Westland District Council is thrilled its application to the Government for cycleway development funding was successful and now hopes for more progress on its Haast-Hollyford road proposal, acting general manager Richard Simpson said yesterday.

The Government announced last week the proposed 139km Westland Wilderness Trail was one of 13 successful projects included in a $50 million national cycle trail strategy.

There were 54 applications to the cycle trail strategy.

Mr Simpson said the council expressed "excitement" at its monthly meeting in Hokitika on Thursday.

The agenda did not include a report or discussion item on the Haast-Hollyford road, as chief executive Robin Reeves had earlier hoped would be available.

"But the council continued to indicate its excitement in the way things are moving [with the road] and is looking forward to further progress being made," Mr Simpson said.

Mr Reeves and Westland Mayor Maureen Pugh were not available for comment yesterday.

The council has set aside $100,000 for Haast-Hollyford road issues, which would cover a feasibility study, a survey and other contingency costs associated with promoting it over the next 12 months, Mr Simpson said.

The addition of a further $25,000 towards a feasibility study by Christchurch businessman Earl Hagaman was also encouraging, he said.

The $12,500 in Government funding for a feasibility study for the cycle trail was "fantastic".

The feasibility study must be completed by the end of May.

The Ministry of Tourism is expected to announce in October whether to put another $3.2 million towards building the Westland trail.

Mr Simpson predicted the trail from Greymouth to Ross, via Kumara, would become at least as popular as the Otago Central Rail Trail.

Like the Otago trail, it would have many access and exit points. It would also take in a wide variety of terrain such as beaches, rainforest, wetlands and lakes.