The Clutha Gold Cycling and Walking Trail would become a top-class recreational and tourism facility benefiting the Otago region, so it deserved financial support from the Otago Regional Council, councillors were told yesterday.
Trail trust chairman Rod Pierce was one of seven people who presented submissions to the council's annual plan at a hearing in Cromwell.
"There is no provision within the draft plan for contributions towards regional initiatives that contribute to the social, economic and cultural wellbeing and health and safety of the region's people - outside of the [Forsyth Barr] stadium," he said.
Mr Pierce said the cycleway to be built from Roxburgh to Lawrence was such an initiative.
It would extend across two districts and would link with the Roxburgh Gorge Trail - between Roxburgh and Alexandra - and the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Clutha Gold and the Roxburgh Gorge trails were among 13 nationwide to receive initial government funding as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail Project.
If the figures in the trail feasibility studies stacked up, $3.8 million would be granted for construction of the Clutha Gold trail and $2 million for the Roxburgh Gorge path.
Mr Pierce said Clutha Gold would directly benefit the economy of Otago's small rural towns in the same way as the rail trail had been beneficial.
He asked for regional council funding for the next two years towards the development of the trail along with assistance with the costs of any resource consent applications.
The trust was in the final stage of preparing its feasibility study for the government funding and its full and final costs were not yet available.
"Discussion on private easements along the whole trail length is progressing favourably. It has been time consuming. We have 103 neighbours and partners along the 73km trail," Mr Pierce said.
The Central Otago District Council last month agreed to underwrite the annual maintenance costs of both trails.
The council's business development manager, Jonathan Gadd, said it was intended both trails be self-sustaining in the long run, and contribute an estimated $3.5 million annually in annual gross domestic profit to Central Otago.
