The Queenstown Mountain Bike Club was granted a licence, subject to the approval of the Minister of Conservation, to construct and operate a 5km circuit for riders and walkers on the Jardine Park Reserve by the Queenstown Lakes District Council this week.
The first semi-completed stage of the four stages designed will be open during the annual Kelvin Peninsula Community Association fun day tomorrow.
The first almost-formed stage of the trail runs for about 1.5km, and the fun day runs between 3pm and 5pm.
Tentative approval for the club to form the trails was granted by the council's community services in 2005, but progress was postponed until approval came from the Department of Conservation and the community last year, and after a public hearing this year.
The predominantly flat trails were designed for beginner riders and families and will be created on the southern end of the reserve, on Kelvin Heights Peninsula, which contains exotic trees.
Councillors heard this week that the parks manager will selectively remove pest species in the bike park area of the reserve this year.
Crs Vanessa van Uden and Gillian Macleod recommended the club consult with the parks manager before the removal of any conifers and that there be no loss of native vegetation through construction of the tracks.
They recommended the club provide the parks manager with an as-built map once the development was finished.
Other recommendations tabled called for the placing of signage regarding the use of the trails, where the toilets were, and that motorcycles were not permitted.
However, the proposal to develop trails in area five of the plan was declined; and trails would be amended to avoid area four.
Trails in area four would be reconsidered if it was not required by the Wakatipu Riding Club and Wakatipu Pony Club for equestrian activities.
The club would maintain the trails and was responsible for the removal of rubbish on the site, plus debris caused by construction.
The club reported the one-way trails of more than a metre wide would take about three weeks to form.
Its maintenance plan covered weed and wilding pine control.
Club facility designer Nathan Greenwood said the club had raised and received $24,000 towards the project from the Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust Southland, AJ Hackett Bungy and members' efforts.
"The club's happy and ready to commence the activities we had planned out there. We're happy to share the facility with other groups as we know how hard it is to get land in Queenstown," he said.
