With construction of the Clutha Gold Trail between Lake Roxburgh village and Lawrence expected to begin this month, a forum has been organised to promote ideas around the trail and how it will benefit communities.
The forum, hosted by the Clutha District Council, will be held in Lawrence on Tuesday to help generate ideas and identify opportunities for the local community arising from the Clutha Gold Trail.
All consents are in place for the 73km cycle trail, which will follow the Clutha River from Roxburgh to Lawrence.
Clutha Gold trustee Graham Dillon said construction would begin at the Roxburgh end in the next few weeks.
CDC development manager Jill Borland said, with construction on the trail due to start soon, the council wanted a forum to help create ideas and identify opportunities for the local community arising from the Clutha Gold Trail.
The public "Trail Opportunities Forum" aimed to identify those with an interest in the trail development and establish a mode of communication. She hoped it would also identify community resources, skills and interests to maximise "potential trail-related opportunities".
The council's role in the forum would be to facilitate discussions among local community members, Ms Borland said.
"We want to work with the Central Otago District Council and the community to promote the trail as a whole and to identify skills in both districts."
The Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board briefly discussed the forum on Wednesday, and encouraged members to attend.
A tourism workshop hosted by Central Otago District Council will be held in Millers Flat on November 28.
The workshop is aimed at present and future tourism operators across the Teviot Valley and into Lawrence, and will include information on characteristics of the cycling market, lessons learned from the Otago Central Rail Trail, collective marketing and opportunities created by the Clutha Gold Trail.
