Group to push for Napier-Gisborne rail trail and walkway
A group of Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay cycling enthusiasts is to set up a trust to raise funds for a feasibility study on a combined rail trail and walkway on the Napier to Gisborne railway corridor.
“We believe a rail trail and walkway will give the region, including the small towns along the route, a huge boost through increased tourism and job opportunities,” said Brian Fisher Hawke’s Bay cyclist.
“Based on other similar projects, such as the Central Otago Rail Trail, we see the potential for a multi-million dollar injection into the region, building on its existing strengths in tourism such as great weather, beaches and food and wine.
“It will also be a great recreational resource.
“We believe that the railway line, if it is kept open, will not be able to match the economic benefits of the rail trail-walkway proposal.”
The 200 kilometre trail has the working name of the ‘Bay2Bay’ and the backers believe it has the potential to be one of New Zealand’s top cycle-walkways. Its features would include the Esk Forest, the Mohaka Viaduct and Mahia Peninsula, stunning East Coast high country landscape and the numerous tunnels.
Potential overnight stopovers could include Tutira, Puturino, Wairoa and the Mahia Peninsula area.
Graham Elliot, cyclist and businessman from Gisborne, said the Bay2Bay’s backers recognised that much work needed to be done to show that proposal stacked up, including completing a feasibility study to examine among other things costs, sources of income, related opportunities such as in tourism and technical and legal issues.
“We think we are sitting on a great opportunity, but it needs to be checked out and obviously we need to raise the money to do this.
“If the feasibility study gives a green light, we’d like to see the Bay2Bay proposal go head to head with any proposal to maintain the current rail link.
“We believe the Bay2Bay proposal has more to offer the region, and the country as a whole. If KiwiRail believe they can do better than one train a week on the line, let them put what they have got on the table.”
Fisher said the Bay2Bay backers realised that the rail trail-walkway could become an option if the Government decided to close the line, but they felt that the Bay2Bay was potentially too good to be treated as a fall back if KiwiRail couldn’t make the line work.
The next step for the Bay2Bay backers is to formally create a trust and begin fund raising.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Rail Trails around the world
Rail trails are shared-use paths recycled from abandoned railway corridors. They can be used for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Here are examples of rail trails already developed in different parts of the world. Our Australian cousins across the ditch have gained numerous federal governments funding to develop rail trails.
Examples in Australia click here http://www.railtrails.org.au
Example in Canada the kettle Valley rail Trail http://www.spiritof2010trail.ca/RailTrail.aspx?id=kettle
Examples around the world http://www.railtrail.com
Here are examples of rail trails already developed in different parts of the world. Our Australian cousins across the ditch have gained numerous federal governments funding to develop rail trails.
Examples in Australia click here http://www.railtrails.org.au
Example in Canada the kettle Valley rail Trail http://www.spiritof2010trail.ca/RailTrail.aspx?id=kettle
Examples around the world http://www.railtrail.com
Government Investment in Cycleways
If you want to check out how cycleways can make a huge difference to regions, have a look at PM John Key’s (successful) case to Cabinet for $50 million to be invested in the Great Rides of New Zealand.
He lists the economic benefits as:
Short-term jobs (eg construction, design)
Long-term jobs (eg accommodation and services)
Stimulating regional economic development
Tourism diversification
Attracting a high spending and fast growing bunch of tourists
Leveraging events
Creating recreational assets
The PM’s paper says the number of domestic cycle tourists has increased 76% since 2004. On average they spend almost 20% more than other domestic tourists.
For international tourists, they spend on average 49% more than the average trip spend for all international tourists. The international cycle tourists also stay twice as long in New Zealand as the average international tourist.
A 2005 survey of Otago Central Rail Trail (OCRT) users showed each rider spent about $350 locally and that the trail had generated 200 additional full and part time jobs among accommodation businesses and other services.
The OCRT expects to have about 11,000 users this year which equals a cash injection into the region worth (on the 2005 figure) of $3.85 million.
I don’t see why the bay2bay can’t be generating at least as much for the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay region after a couple of years.
To see the full PM’s paper go to http://www.tourism.govt.nz/Documents/Policy%20Website/Documents/CyclewayProject/CyclewayCabinetPaper.pdf
He lists the economic benefits as:
Short-term jobs (eg construction, design)
Long-term jobs (eg accommodation and services)
Stimulating regional economic development
Tourism diversification
Attracting a high spending and fast growing bunch of tourists
Leveraging events
Creating recreational assets
The PM’s paper says the number of domestic cycle tourists has increased 76% since 2004. On average they spend almost 20% more than other domestic tourists.
For international tourists, they spend on average 49% more than the average trip spend for all international tourists. The international cycle tourists also stay twice as long in New Zealand as the average international tourist.
A 2005 survey of Otago Central Rail Trail (OCRT) users showed each rider spent about $350 locally and that the trail had generated 200 additional full and part time jobs among accommodation businesses and other services.
The OCRT expects to have about 11,000 users this year which equals a cash injection into the region worth (on the 2005 figure) of $3.85 million.
I don’t see why the bay2bay can’t be generating at least as much for the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay region after a couple of years.
To see the full PM’s paper go to http://www.tourism.govt.nz/Documents/Policy%20Website/Documents/CyclewayProject/CyclewayCabinetPaper.pdf
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Bay2 Bay
Bay2Bay is the unofficial name given to what we hope will be a stunning cycle and walking facility between Napier and Gisborne.
The plan is to establish a trust to progress the development of a rail trail between Poverty Bay (starting/ending Gisborne - New Zealand North Island East Coast) to Hawke Bay (starting/ending Napier City - New Zealand North Island East Coast) 200kms apart.
For many years the Napier to Gisborne rail line has not made money for the owners, past and present. Kiwi Rail is the current owner/operator, Kiwi Rail’s number one shareholder is the New Zealand Government.
The rail line is the only rail link out of Gisborne, used by just one train a week.
Yes it's still a rail line, but we believe the alternative, a walking/rail trail, a tourism facility similar to what has been created in Central Otago - the Central Otago Rail Trail - would help stimulate the economy, help transform tourism, bolster the numerous rural communities between Gisborne and Napier, improve the environment and keep Kiwis and tourists fitter.
The first step is to establish a trust, The Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust (a name given by a keen Wellington Cyclist). Once established the Trust would commission a economic feasibility study on an Rail/walking trail for this isolated East Coast region, then lobby for such a facility to be built. We do not envisage a trail built along side the existing rail line, we envisage it replacing the rail line. A line for walkers and cyclists, not trains. In other words using the existing rail corridor.
The current Napier to Gisborne rail line is "sacrosanct" according to Mr A Dick chairman of the Hawkes Bay Regional Council and chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Land Transport Committee, "It will never be a rail trail". We hope he is wrong. Once established the Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust will provide strong evidence for a viable alternative to rail.
Interested in supporting the soon to be established Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust please contact Brian Fisher Fisher_Blakeley@xtra.co.nz
The plan is to establish a trust to progress the development of a rail trail between Poverty Bay (starting/ending Gisborne - New Zealand North Island East Coast) to Hawke Bay (starting/ending Napier City - New Zealand North Island East Coast) 200kms apart.
For many years the Napier to Gisborne rail line has not made money for the owners, past and present. Kiwi Rail is the current owner/operator, Kiwi Rail’s number one shareholder is the New Zealand Government.
The rail line is the only rail link out of Gisborne, used by just one train a week.
Yes it's still a rail line, but we believe the alternative, a walking/rail trail, a tourism facility similar to what has been created in Central Otago - the Central Otago Rail Trail - would help stimulate the economy, help transform tourism, bolster the numerous rural communities between Gisborne and Napier, improve the environment and keep Kiwis and tourists fitter.
The first step is to establish a trust, The Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust (a name given by a keen Wellington Cyclist). Once established the Trust would commission a economic feasibility study on an Rail/walking trail for this isolated East Coast region, then lobby for such a facility to be built. We do not envisage a trail built along side the existing rail line, we envisage it replacing the rail line. A line for walkers and cyclists, not trains. In other words using the existing rail corridor.
The current Napier to Gisborne rail line is "sacrosanct" according to Mr A Dick chairman of the Hawkes Bay Regional Council and chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Land Transport Committee, "It will never be a rail trail". We hope he is wrong. Once established the Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust will provide strong evidence for a viable alternative to rail.
Interested in supporting the soon to be established Bay2Bay Rail Trail Trust please contact Brian Fisher Fisher_Blakeley@xtra.co.nz
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