Funds build track to 'great fishing spot'

A new walking track will be created between Carter Reserve and the Ruamahanga River, thanks to funding from the New Zealand Walking Access Commission.

Sustainable Wairarapa received $8000 from the commission to create the track across private land near Carterton.

Ray Stewart, treasurer of the group, said the money will help get the project off the ground so people will be able to access "a great fishing spot".

"The plan is to cover the legal costs of arranging access and planting natives."

"At the moment it's awkward to get to it."

Mr Stewart said the walkway will be completed within the next year and the Department of Conservation will help maintain it.

He said the group was working closely with DoC, which has also just put $10,000 towards the Makoura stream project.

The Makoura stream is one of the most polluted in the Wellington region and an ongoing project.

As well as the walkway, Sustainable Wairarapa will also focus on cleaning up the lower end of the stream this year, said Mr Stewart.

He said the group was an incorporated society that acts as an umbrella group with its members working on various projects around the region.

It has 80 members.

On Tuesday, the commission announced that more than $60,000 had been awarded to nine groups around the country to support access to the outdoors.

Commission chief executive Mark Neeson said it was a challenge to choose the recipients.

"We received requests for assistance to fund projects worth a total of nearly half a million dollars, so it's not an easy decision."

The largest grant this year was $20,000, which went to Te Araroa Trust to assist negotiations for new, improved routes on Te Araroa Pathway.

The 3000km pathway stretches from Cape Reinga to Bluff.