The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust expects to have its brand new 5km "true right" track completed by Christmas this year.
The track is set to be on Department of Conservation land and will run from the Lake Hāwea dam to Camphill Rd with consent from the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
The new path has been designed as a getaway for walkers and cyclists who crave a break from the busy commuter cycle routes and will have accessibility for adaptive bikes and strollers.
While work has yet to start, trust chairman David Howard was confident it would be ready by Christmas.
The amount budgeted for the project is $154,000, and while there is still a shortfall, trust founding member John Wellington believed the trust could continue the project with caution, while further funding was sought.
Major contributions so far have been $38,346 from the Central Lakes Trust, $30,000 from Otago Community Trust, $1500 from New Zealand Bike Trails and $3000 from the Hāwea Community Association.
The trust had also just received $2500 from the final Wheels to Wānaka event.
Mr Wellington said the trust launched a give-a-little page while they gradually built up supporters.
As part of the new track, Mr Howard said small clearings would be established on off-shoots from the track to allow walkers and cyclists to "stop, take a breath, dangle their feet in the river and, perhaps, get out the rug for a picnic".
"What better way to take in the best of the Upper Clutha's summer scenery than with a cold leg of chicken in one hand and a plastic cup of Elderflower cordial in the other."
At their meeting last month, trustees gave the go-ahead for tenders to be called to form some of the more difficult parts of the track near the "wave", create some new track, widen some sections of existing tracks and construct a boardwalk across a wetland.
A survey had already been completed to ensure the track did not affect lizards and the trust was consulting with Contact Energy about where track users could cross the dam at the head of the river.
Meanwhile, the trust was holding back on upgrades the existing Wānaka to Hāwea track.
The trust was aware rough parts of the track were in dire need of upgrading, however Mr Wellington said the only responsible approach was to be sure the work was completely funded before beginning.
"Unfortunately, we missed out on a grant from the Lotteries Board and are now back at the drawing board looking at how to get this big maintenance job across the line," Mr Wellington said.
— APL
