The group working on the cycleway included people with engineering, design, earth-moving and road construction expertise, as well as cyclists.
The cycleway will begin on the Seaward Arglye track, south of Charleston, and emerge at Constant Bay. It will pass through Charleston and cross a yet-to-be-built swing bridge over the Nile River.
The track will then head north to Totara River, past the Okari Lagoon and the seal colony at Tauranga Bay and on towards Cape Foulwind, before winding up at Westport.
The next stage in the process will involve formalising access across unformed public roads, working with DOC and landowners.
Mr Black said he had been "blown away" by the response from locals and landowners.
Most were happy to have tourists "riding through their front paddock".
The project was ambitious, but realistic, he said. Project spokeswoman Sheri Lee said the track might cost around $1.5million to complete.
Some private land would need to be used, which could influence the cost. For example, the group might gain access to land but have to build a cattle grid for the farmer in return.
She said the project also relied on sponsorship, and government, council and Development West Coast input.
The track would be built in stages. Charleston residents would focus on their part, while Cape Foulwind people would focus on theirs, before linking it together, she said.
"When you look at something like the Old Ghost Road, which had huge engineering issues, this will have some obviously because of the bridges involved, but it can be done."
She estimated a bridge at the Nile River might cost between $125,000 and $150,000 to build. A bridge would need to be built over the Totara River as well.
Locals were welcome to have input and the naming of the track would be opened up to the wider community at a later date.
- Westport News
