For the past four years the Carterton District Trails Trust has been working with the Carterton District Council on a cycling and walking link between Greytown and Carterton. During that time, we have identified an agreed trail pathway, an agreed bridge design over the Waiohine River and an agreed site for the bridge.
This trail and bridge will deliver a safe connection for walkers and cyclists between Greytown and Carterton away from busy State Highway One. The trail will connect in the south to the Five Town Trail network which links Featherston to Greytown across the Tauwharenikau River to the Greytown Rail Trail. To the north plans are underway to extend the trail to Masterton via Carterton.
Put simply, eventually this trail will run from Wellington Airport, through Wellington, along the new Te Ara Tupua Trail along the Hutt Motorway, up the Huitt Valley and over the exiting Remutaka Rail Trail to the towns of Wairarapa.
The benefits of trails of this type across New Zealand have shown positive economic, social, and environmental impacts. A recent study of the 22 Great Rides in New Zealand has shown 2.5 million trips generating $1.28 billion expenditure in one year.
Next Steps
The next steps for the Carterton leg over the Waiohine include a peer review of the exiting plan, preparation of working drawings for the bridge and construction of the linking trails. Strategies to fund this work are underway. We are seeking to understand and make connections with both big and small potential funders and people who could assist us in moving this project forward. A website and social marketing presence is underdevelopment.
Carterton District Trails Trust Contact points
Chair Grant Sidaway (grant@presenter.co.nz)
Secretary Ian Macdonald (ianmacdonald@xtra.co.nz)