Four bridges will be built on the Kurow to Duntroon section of the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail over the next few months, with the help of an $18,500 grant from Meridian's Waitaki Community Fund.
Friends of Alps 2 Ocean spokeswoman Adair Craik said areas of the 301km trail - which runs from Mt Cook to Oamaru - required additional funding for bridges and for rerouting it off the main roads to make it safer for cyclists.
‘‘The initial government grant for the trail was $2.75million.
‘‘However, it became obvious that was not going to be enough to complete the trail to the standards required,'' Ms Craik said.
‘‘More opportunities have also risen to where the trail can go and how it could be improved, meaning the final cost of the trail is likely to reach $10 million.''
The trail was helping to put small Waitaki towns on the map, reviving some that were ‘‘literally dying'', Ms Craik said.
‘‘There are now thousands of people cycling the trail paying for accommodation and food, hiring equipment and trying out the local tourist attractions. Some people are even buying property along the trail.''
The funding from Meridian would go some way to completing the Kurow to Duntroon section, which would be completely off-road as part of a focus to take cyclists off State Highway 83.
Most of the trail follows the old haul road alongside the Waitaki River with sections of new trail through farmland and beside State Highway 83.
Meridian community engagement manager Shelley O'Dwyer said the Alps 2 Ocean was a fabulous ride through ‘‘spectacular landscapes and unique communities''.
‘‘The trail is already contributing significant value to the communities of the Mackenzie district and Waitaki Valley and these benefits will continue to develop,'' she said.
Other projects to receive grants from the Waitaki Community Fund.-
●Glenavy Community Hall Trust: $10,000 towards the refurbishment of the hall kitchen.
●Coastguard Mackenzie Lakes and Environment Canterbury: $10,000 towards the creation of a boat ramp at Lake Ruataniwha.
●Kurow Medical Centre: $26,000 to assist with buying a Prime vehicle.
●Awakino Charitable Trust: $5000 towards a new truck to cart and spread gravel on the road to Awakino Skifield.
●Otematata Residents Association Inc: $5000 towards a project to level and spread gravel on the Otematata Wetland Walkway.
●Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society: $4500 to buy timber for a deck alongside the proposed raceway at the hatchery site at Welcome Stream.
●Duntroon Districts and Development Association: $5000 towards Duntroon Wetland track improvement.
●Waitaki Valley Community Society: $6000 towards a Kurow town clock.
●Lower Waitaki River Management Society: $5000 to assist with the construction of a boat launching ramp at Glenavy.
