The Milton Rotary Club presented its plans to transform a paper road above Waihola to the Clutha District Council during its long-term plan hearings recently.
The club wishes to formalise Crane Hill Rd as an official walking track, in memory of Milton Rotary Otago Youth Adventure Trust Tramping Club founder and stalwart Peter Vollweiler, who died, aged 89, in November last year.
Current tramping club president Rob Wilton said the Crane Hill Rd track would be the most fitting memorial possible for Mr Vollweiler.
"Peter was German-born, his enthusiasm and energy were fantastic, and his love of the New Zealand back country was incredible. In particular, he was able to pass that enthusiasm on to other people so well. He was a legend, really."
Until reduced mobility began to affect him about five years ago, Mr Vollweiler would walk the track almost every day, Mr Wilton said.
"Peter had walked the Milford Track 59 times, and had ambitions to make it 60 before he stepped back from tramping. He was using Crane Rd as training, but his balance became affected, unfortunately, and he was unable to make the 60.
"Other people might have benches and so on down by the lake, but that’s probably a bit too sedentary for Peter’s memory."
The tramping club, which operates on a for-cost basis while accepting donations towards Rotary community projects, has taken 20,000 people on trips since 1986, and raised more than $2million for good causes.
The scale and continued success of the enterprise was down in large part to Mr Vollweiler, Mr Wilton said.
"He had an office set aside for the club, with maps, tramping books and members’ and other participants’ names on the walls on big charts. He spent five to six hours a day for 15-20 years keeping things running."
In recognition of his efforts, Mr Vollweiler received three Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship awards, and a Service Above Self award, only 50 of which are presented worldwide each year.
Milton Rotary president Stephen Woodhead said the 1.4km track would cost between $60,000 and $100,000 to complete, given approval by Clutha District Council.
"It’s a council asset, and we’ve applied to Clutha to support us with the appropriate licensing and planning permissions as part of their current long-term plan process.
"But we’re not coming to the council with our hand out. We’re prepared to fund the great majority of the work."
On completion, ownership of the track would be transferred to the council.
"We see it not only as a permanent memorial to Peter, but also an asset to the district."
