Six projects across NZ awarded walking access funding
Six projects across New Zealand have been awarded a total of $21,660 from the New Zealand Walking Access Commission's Enhanced Access Fund, which supports projects designed to enhance access to the outdoors.
The projects approved in the first funding round of 2015-2016 include a walkway from Cargill's Castle to Tunnel Beach in Dunedin proposed by Cargill's Castle Trust, sections of the national Te Araroa Trail, and a Rural Women New Zealand project to establish access to Castledowns Wetlands in Southland.
The majority of the funding for these projects will go towards legal costs of formalising public access routes and surveying costs.
Other projects to receive funding include the Waikaraka Walkway near Whangarei, Te Ara Ramaroa track on Whareroa Farm Reserve in Kāpiti and the Westmere Walkway in Whanganui, which will receive funding for signage and information boards.
New Zealand Walking Access Commission chief executive Mark Neeson said it was essential projects of this sort received support to ensure access was legally secured and would stand the test of time.
“Projects of this nature are often the result of many hours' work from people who are passionate about experiencing the areas they live in. But there are times when the hard work of trail developers is undone, sometimes years later, because the route the trail passes over has not been made legally enduring.
“The Commission is pleased to be able to support projects such as these for the benefit of current and future generations. The projects funded through our first funding round of the year provide access to some fascinating sites, not least a route from New Zealand's only ruined castle to the remarkable Tunnel Beach.”
The Commission's next funding round is now open, with applications invited up until 31 March 2016. There are two rounds of funding being run in the 2015-2016 year, with a total of $63,300 available.
Funding is prioritised towards projects designed to obtain certain and enduring access, such as negotiations to secure access agreements, legal or survey costs of obtaining access, or the cost of obtaining Resource Management Act consents. Initiatives such as signage, installation of stiles and other activities that improve existing public access are also eligible.
Enhanced Access Fund grants have been awarded to 79 projects in the five years the fund has been available. Guidelines and further details about the 2015-2016 application process are available in the Enhanced Access Fund section of the Commission's website.
Enhanced Access Fund 2015-2016 round 1 funding recipients
National
Te Araroa Trust was awarded $8,500 in funding assistance for five locations on the national Te Araroa Trail, with $6,500 going toward legal costs and signage for the Mt Tamahunga section near Matakana and the remainder going towards signage costs at Helena Ridge, Warkworth, Waitomo and Southland.
Te Araroa Trail runs the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga in Northland to Bluff in Southland - around 3,000 kilometres in total.
Whangarei
The Waikaraka Walkway Support Group has been awarded $1,100 to assist with signage and information boards for the scenic and previously popular Waikaraka Walkway, which leads from the coast near Onerahi to the outskirts of Whangarei.
This previously formed trail has fallen into disrepair, but is now being restored thanks to hardworking community volunteers. It provides spectacular coastal and forest views.
Whanganui
The Rotary Club of Wanganui was awarded $380 from the New Zealand Walking Access Commission's Enhanced Access Fund to develop signage for the Westmere Walkway.
Westmere Walkway traverses rolling countryside and provides magnificent views over Whanganui city and the river.
Kāpiti
The Whareroa Guardians Community Trust has been awarded $1,380 to assist with signage for the new tramping track 'Te Ara Ramaroa', at the 450 hectare Whareroa Farm Reserve near Paraparaumu.
Dunedin
Cargill's Castle Trust has been awarded $5,000 to assist with legal fees and survey costs associated with the creation of a two kilometre publically accessible walkway leading from Dunedin's iconic Tunnel Beach to New Zealand's only ruined castle.
Southland
Rural Women New Zealand has been awarded $5,300 to assist with legal fees, survey costs, and signage for a project to formalise public access to one of Southland's few remaining flax wetlands near Castledowns.
The proposed trail passes through a Rural Women New Zealand's forestry block in Dipton and links with an existing walkway featuring nearby limestone cliffs.