New Zealand's Te Araroa trail network is about to be extended a step further around Lake Wanaka.
The Wanaka Community Board approved the next stage in a walkway linking Wanaka to Glendhu Bay, which makes up a 4.7km section of the Te Araroa trail network, which is intended to stretch the length of the country.
From Glendhu Bay, the trail will link with the beginning of the Motatapu Track, to Arrowtown.
A report tabled by Mark Symons, a Queenstown Lakes District Council project manager for the walkway, said the walking and biking track would create an important extension from the existing Millennium Track.
Board members approved a recommendation to seek tenders to begin construction on a 4.7km track linking Damper Bay to Glendhu Bay.
The estimated cost of forming the walkway is $400,000, with contributions from the QLDC 2008-09 budget ($130,000), the Department of Conservation ($40,000), and the Wanaka Walking Group ($6500).
A shortfall of $223,500 is covered by an allocation of $250,000 towards the track in the QLDC's draft 2009-10 community plan budget.
The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust has also signalled it is willing to assist in raising funds for the project.
A section of the track passes steep bluffs, where blasting will be necessary to form the 1.2m wide walkway, Mr Symons said.
Board members questioned why no progress had been made on a link from the Millennium Track to Damper Bay, which was promised by the Otago Regional Council, last year.
