Dream Unfolds for Trail Team

Those behind the development of the Tairua River Trail have a dream that being to see the project completed within the next three years.

This on the back of today’s announcement that all necessary consents are now in place to enable the trail linking Pauanui and Tairua to be completed.

This includes both a bridge over the Tairua River and a boardwalk into the town. Chairman of the project group the Hikuai District Trust, Derrick Adams, told us besides constructing the next stage, a focus would be establishing cornerstone partners to assist with funding the remainder of the track works.

As part of this a give a little page is already in place. Derrick said the project already had strong public support.

Click here for our interview with Derrick.

That’s Derrick Adams. The next stage of the trail work will happen this coming summer.

Wednesday 9 October – A long-awaited walking and cycle trail connecting the Pauanui and Tairua communities is set to become a reality after being granted resource consent.
Thames-Coromandel District Council and Waikato Regional Council have approved an extension of the existing Tairua River Trail, via a 120-metre suspension bridge across the river and 7km of new trail along its north bank – creating a fully-off road route between the towns.
A scenic and easily-accessible 6km section of trail from Pauanui waterways upstream towards Hikuai is already open, and used by tens of thousands of people a year. When the trail to Tairua is finished, walkers and cyclists will be able to complete it as a loop, connecting with local streets in each town and a short ferry across the estuary, creating a unique one-day experience.
The Hikuai District Trust is a local charitable trust overseeing the trail’s construction. Its chair Derrick Adams says the completed trail will become a valuable long term community asset.
“With its amazing views up and down the river, wide and mainly-flat trail surface, and soon a bridge across the river that will make an impressive sight from nearby SH25, this is a trail the wider Eastern Coromandel community can be proud of,” Mr Adams says.
When completed in the next few years, it’s expected the trail will create:
• Economic opportunities from increased year-round walking and cycle tourism;
• Conservation benefits through an extension of the existing planting and pest-trapping work;
• A safer off-road walking route for residents south of Tairua township;
• Improved community health and wellbeing;
• Potential future connections to other walking and cycling trails in the region.
Mr Adams thanked the more than 800 members of the public who gave feedback as part of the resource consent application process, as well as TCDC and WRC for their work on the application.
“The trail has been community-led from day one, and we’re very thankful for the ongoing public support from around the region,” he says.
“We’re also grateful to local iwi, land owners, Waka Kotahi, Environment Waikato, the local community board and many community groups for assisting us in the process.
With regulatory approvals in place, construction on the first portion of the new trail stage will start this summer. Construction will be funded by a mix of public and private sources, with the opportunity for local organisations and individuals to support as cornerstone partners.
In the meantime, Mr Adams encourages locals and visitors to get out and enjoy the trail, and get in touch if they want to support.
“We have a fabulous group of volunteers from far and wide who have helped fund, build and maintain the trail for many years. If you want to get involved in any aspect of our future plans, we’d love to hear from you.”
People can can donate now to the project by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/support-the-tairua-river-trail, or find out more by visiting the trail website or emailing [email protected].