A new trail between Charleston and Westport could plough $4 million a year into the Buller economy, according to its promotors.
The Charleston-Westport Coastal Trail Trust expects the 50km cycling and walking trail to attract about 8000 visitors a year.
It would cost $5 million to $6 million to build and employ about 20 people full-time in construction, said information supplied by the trust to the Buller District Council.
The trail would follow the historic 1860s gold rush route from Westport to Charleston, and part of the greenstone trail. The trust said it would offer spectacular coastal views, and be a family-friendly grade two cycleway/walkway.
Another Buller cycling/walking icon, The Old Ghost Road, is grade four.
The trust hopes to begin building in January next year, subject to funding. Four bridges would be required.
The Westport-Carters Beach section would be finished by July. The Okari, Big Totara and Nile River sections would be done by December, enabling people to ride/walk from Westport to Charleston.
They would have to use public roads in places where the trail was not completed.
The trust hopes to finish building the other sections and install signs and information panels and toilets by December 2019, then open the trail in January 2020.
The trust said that so far it had planned the route, had talks with private landowners and gained support from other major landowners such as the council, the Department of Conservation and Landcorp.
The trust said it needed $100,000 to survey the route and provide an engineering assessment, to enable detailed design and accurate costings.
The council's chief executive, Andy Gowland-Douglas, has recommended the council sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the trust.
Under the MOU, the council would provide access to the land and infrastructure it controls and seek right of way easements for the trail where it crosses private land.
The trust would be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the land and infrastructure, as well as the trail in general.
About 50% of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail will cross council land.
The council and the trust would work together so the trail benefited the public, and met local and national requirements and laws, the MOU said.
The MOU would not commit the council to providing funding for either the development or maintenance of the trail.
Councillors will discuss Ms Gowland-Douglas' report at their monthly meeting tomorrow night.
-- Westport News
