Coastal cycle trail gets back on track in joint venture

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief Rhys Arrowsmith says cycle tourism was a growing trend and it is important to have good trails that will draw people to the area. Photo / John Borren

The Tauranga Moana Coastal Cycle Trail could still become a reality - four years after plans were scrapped when the Government refused to fund it.

Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council yesterday agreed to support sections of the trail as a joint council project and consider including it in long term plans.

An application to fund the plan had also made it to the second phase of the Prime Minister's Tourism Growth Fund which could see $500,000 put towards the project.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Rhys Arrowsmith yesterday put forward a case for three sections of the trail to be built - from Waihi to Waihi beach, Omokoroa to Tauranga and along the Tauranga Eastern Link to Maketu and Paengaroa.

Mr Arrowsmith (pictured) said cycle tourism was a growing trend and it was important to have good trails that would draw people to the area.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council deputy chief executive Gary Allis said not only would the trails draw tourists but also be popular with commuters and recreational cyclists.

The trails would allow those in Omokoroa and Te Puna to cycle to town for work, he said.

On their bikes

• An estimated 35,000 international visitors biked in New Zealand.

• The average spend of a cyclist was $3800 per visit while other visitors spent only $2500 per visit.

• 13 per cent of New Zealanders cycle regularly and 16 per cent of those live in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.