What is it about the project you are involved in that got you interested in conservation and drives your work?
''It was probably providing easy access to the river bank for the public, and the historical aspect of the Clutha River like the dredging remnants. I have lived on the river since the 1960s. We used to find old dredge buckets and observe the wrecks of the dredge so I have become, in my mid-70s, part of the structure of the river. It's been a lifetime of a developing interest that has come to a peak with this project.''
How does the project you're involved in benefit conservation?
''There's quite a lot of flora down there that we are still discovering as trustees. Things keep popping up all the time. For example, across the river, on the opposite side to the trail, we discovered 600-year-old native totara trees. The lower Clutha, from Roxburgh through to Beaumont was very rich with history - gold-mining history and Maori history. It's a learning curve for us, all the time history is being uncovered.''
What do you get out of your work in conservation?
''There's the enjoyment of dealing with a range of people - corporate people, archaeologists and contractors. But the core thing for me - I have always been a tramper, climber and skier - is that I have got older and found that cycling really fits the bill for older people. There has been a lot of physical work to be done in the construction of the trail and riding it to test it out, so healthwise it's great. It lengthens my life.''
What challenges have you faced and how have they been overcome?
''It's been a huge challenge for the whole trust really because we are a group of volunteers who have come together with an idea and are now making it a reality. Negotiating with landowners [to gain easements] was a challenge. In a lot of cases we ended up working through a process and resolved most issues. I think in many cases the landowners were a bit apprehensive. We were taken to the Environment Court but that was resolved too.''
In what direction do yousee your conservation work going in the future?
''One of the trust's key functions is to maintain the trail and maintain the quality. It is very important for us to have a continued sound relationship with our easement providers and trail neighbours and that's a commitment we gladly take. We are also prepared to support other groups with similar projects. What happens in the future, though, is hard to be exact about.''
