HB ON THE CYCLE TRAIL MAP WITH $1.88 MILLION
Last year you may recall the challenge I put out to Hawkes Bay to become a part of the John Key National Cycleway project.
After some debate the best idea was put up by Neil Daykin and Graeme Hansen from the HBRC and supported by Michael Basset Foss from Venture Hawkes Bay. Their idea was to build on existing infrastructure, championed by the Rotary Pathways Trust, to create three iconic rides around the Bay. The three ride idea is great because it will keep tourists here longer, spending more, therefore helping to better grow our economy. The upshot of all this was a bid to Government on the 31st of May of which Tukituki MP Craig Foss and I were strongly supportive.
It’s great news then that last week Hawkes Bay was successful in securing funding for the first of our great rides. The go-ahead delivers $1.88 million into the Bay to add to funding from the Regional Council.
The first successful ride is the Heretaunga Ararua “Landscapes” trail. This ride will start down the Marine Parade to Te Awanga, down the Maraetotara River, across farmland to Craggy Range Road, across the Waimarama Bridge and then down the river under the iconic Te Mata Peak, with options back to Napier or Havelock North.
The 31 May bid included a second trail “The Wetlands Trail” located to the west of the airport following the Ahuriri Estuary and wetlands all the way to Bay View. This bid has not been successful at this stage but is still very much in the mix with the National Cycleway body requiring more feasibility work to be completed. Rest assured I’ll be working hard to make sure this second bid is successful as well.
I hope to see construction on the first Hawke’s Bay trail well underway by this summer. This will mean jobs for locals during the construction phase and more importantly long-term jobs through accommodation and other support services.
A big thank you to the Regional Council and to Venture Hawke’s Bay for all their hard work. Well done.
Last year you may recall the challenge I put out to Hawkes Bay to become a part of the John Key National Cycleway project.
After some debate the best idea was put up by Neil Daykin and Graeme Hansen from the HBRC and supported by Michael Basset Foss from Venture Hawkes Bay. Their idea was to build on existing infrastructure, championed by the Rotary Pathways Trust, to create three iconic rides around the Bay. The three ride idea is great because it will keep tourists here longer, spending more, therefore helping to better grow our economy. The upshot of all this was a bid to Government on the 31st of May of which Tukituki MP Craig Foss and I were strongly supportive.
It’s great news then that last week Hawkes Bay was successful in securing funding for the first of our great rides. The go-ahead delivers $1.88 million into the Bay to add to funding from the Regional Council.
The first successful ride is the Heretaunga Ararua “Landscapes” trail. This ride will start down the Marine Parade to Te Awanga, down the Maraetotara River, across farmland to Craggy Range Road, across the Waimarama Bridge and then down the river under the iconic Te Mata Peak, with options back to Napier or Havelock North.
The 31 May bid included a second trail “The Wetlands Trail” located to the west of the airport following the Ahuriri Estuary and wetlands all the way to Bay View. This bid has not been successful at this stage but is still very much in the mix with the National Cycleway body requiring more feasibility work to be completed. Rest assured I’ll be working hard to make sure this second bid is successful as well.
I hope to see construction on the first Hawke’s Bay trail well underway by this summer. This will mean jobs for locals during the construction phase and more importantly long-term jobs through accommodation and other support services.
A big thank you to the Regional Council and to Venture Hawke’s Bay for all their hard work. Well done.
