And Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said if a trail from Oamaru to Palmerston went ahead, the next step could be to link the district’s cycle trail to Dunedin.
Waitaki District Council recreation manager Erik van der Spek confirmed the proposal to develop a coastal cycleway from Oamaru to Palmerston would be discussed as a project during the council’s autumn 2018-28 Long Term Plan consultation.
Mr Kircher said discussions at the council about an Oamaru to Palmerston cycle trail started after ‘‘a couple of submissions’’ to the council wanting a cycle trail connecting Oamaru and Kakanui, or Hampden and Moeraki.
"And it sort of struck a chord really," he said.
The area could support "a great coastal cycle trail" with cyclists drawn to the flora and fauna of the coast and a new cycle trail for the area would be "a great juxtaposition" to the soon-to-be-completed Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail that starts in the Mackenzie District at Mt Cook, or Lake Tekapo, and ends in Oamaru.
A feasibility study for the Oamaru to Palmerston trail — expected to cost between $40,000 and $50,000 — could begin this calendar year. The construction would wait, Mr Kircher said, "and that’s the long-term plan part of that".
"We have to get the timing right, there still are chunks of Alps 2 Ocean we need to get out of the way first.
"But if we can get this other one planned and some of the early discussions about where it would go, and likely costs, it’s really important to be able to take those next steps."
And while the trail would not be as long as the Alps 2 Ocean trail, a trail south to Palmerston could provide opportunities for several communities along the route. Recreational cycling was "very good" from an economic development point of view, as had been proved in the recent "rejuvenation" of the Waitaki Valley.
"Being able to provide a bit more accommodation, or just the fact that their local dairies are busier, it all helps with the sustainability of those communities. That’s what we would be looking for out of this," Mr Kircher said.
"But there’s a lot of benefit, too, in the connectivity of communities through cycle trails. Going back to that initial submission on connecting Hampden and Moeraki — the ability to safely cycle between those — those sorts of benefits are great for the locals as well."
Mr Kircher said the council had approached the Dunedin City Council about the possibility of an Oamaru to Dunedin cycle trail and there had "certainly been a warm response". The Otago Daily Times emailed the Dunedin council to confirm Mr Kircher’s statement yesterday but had no immediate reply.
Waitaki District Council policy and business improvement manager Mike Roesler said councillors had discussed the upcoming long-term plan at eight workshop meetings since September 2017. The council was expected to set consultation dates for the draft plan at its March 6 meeting.
