Carterton bike track could expand

INTO IT: Brent Sowry and chairman Brian Faulknor get ready for a ride at the Carterton Mountain Bike Park in 2010.PHOTO/FILE

Carterton - the new adventure tourism hot spot of Wairarapa?

Carterton District Council is talking with the Wairarapa Multisport Club who developed a mountain bike track at Kaipaitangata near Dalefield, about possible expansions.

The club first approached the council with a three stage plan. Stage one, a "two loop" track, was completed in 2010.

Stage two would be a "more adventurous course" moving into hills, with stage three being a more advanced track for skilled mountain bikers.

"The park attracts a small but steady flow of visits during weekends and holidays - mainly families with small children," the club's Brian Faulknor said in a report.

"The WMSC organise time trial races for 24 nights during the winter on Tuesday nights from April to September, this is the fourth year that these have been run."

The club now proposes to complete stage two which would involve extending the track into a hilly area on the northern side of the Kaipaitangata stream.

Stage three will include a grade three and four advanced trail with narrow, steep obstacles such as bridges, drop offs and ladder sections.

Community facilities manager Brian McWilliams told council the club had done a "brilliant job with little council involvement".

"They built all the tracks themselves."

He was in discussions with four wheel drive and motor cross enthusiasts who were also interested in using the Kaipaitangata hill side.

He also brought up the idea of a possible shooting range and a training ground for Carterton fire fighters.

"We have the chance to support something unique. No one else in Wairarapa has anything like this."

He gave the example of a tech and all terrain park in Rotorua which has been used for four wheel drive, mountain biking and shooting, among other activities, and has become a big tourist attraction.

Councillor John Booth noted the risk of fire in a forested area being used by many people - which started a council debate on safety, responsibility and environmental issues if the development were to go ahead.

Mayor Ron Mark said the council would agree to the use of the land for stage two of the mountain bike track on the condition there was a memorandum of understanding. Further developments are just ideas at this stage.