It has been less than 48 hours since the Wakatipu Trails Trust (WTT) was told it had received $1.83 million in Ministry of Tourism funding for the Queenstown Trail, and those behind the plans are not wasting any time.
Queenstown Lakes District Council parks and open spaces director Paul Wilson said the trail network of about 100km would incorporate Gibbston, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes Estate, Frankton and Queenstown.
After a feasibility study was conducted, WTT chief executive Kaye Parker said the trust needed to raise about $600,000 over the next three years to meet its commitment to the Ministry of Tourism.
A fundraiser in March raised $195,000, and the trust had been working on a target of about $500,000.
The escalated costs had primarily come from having to build up to eight bridges, she said.
"We've got two major trails. One is from the Arrow Millennium trail, over the Arrow River which, if it goes ahead, will have eight bridges [leading] to Gibbston.
"The other one is from the Shotover Bridge around to the Arrowtown trail, which will also lead to Gibbston.
"With all the bridges, you can imagine how beautiful it's going to be."
Mr Wilson said parts of the proposed trails would not require consent and they would be started "immediately".
"There will be a community service crew working [on parts of the trail] on Sunday.
"Some consents need to be applied for, and some archaeological work is being done in Arrowtown.
"Before July 20 we've got to build a more detailed timeline [but] there is no impediment and we've got options that will provide the track," Mr Wilson said.
"We're going for the views and the scenery and all the other activities around it that [users] will stop and enjoy."
The WTT is in the final stages of planning for its next next fundraiser, which will probably be held in October.
