Three months into its formation the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust has already commenced work on its first major project, the Hawea River Track.

"It's great to have the first of the Trust's walking and cycling projects, as identified in the new strategy, underway," Trust chairman John Pawson said.

The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, originally the Aspiring Trails Trust, was granted $25,000 in seeding funds from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, earlier this year.

"Work on planning, design and negotiation of the Hawea River Track route is already in hand. An exciting and challenging element of this project will be the development of a walk and cycle suspension bridge across the lower part of the river," Mr Pawson said.

In all projects the Trust would take a lead role in coordinating and liaising with parties including the council, Department of Conservation, landowners and recreational users.

"It's very much a model based on the work already achieved by the highly successful Wakatipu Trails Trust. It?s great to get it underway for the Upper Clutha community both to establish new links and to compliment the existing walkway network," he said.

The Trust , which is made up of John Pawson, Grant Fyfe, John Wellington, Rachel Brown, Helen Tait and Tim Dennis, has as it's settlers' Paul Hellebrekers (DOC) Clive Geddes (QLDC Mayor) and Mike Allison (community representative).

"We are also very pleased to have the support of our Trust patron Stuart Landsborough, the current recipient of the Inland Otago Conservation Award for his voluntary efforts in establishing the Diamond Lake-Rocky Mountain day walk," Mr Pawson said.

Other walkway priorities for the Trust included: the Albert Town to Red Bridge walkway via the Clutha River and the Millennium walkway to Glendhu Bay.

"There is a lot to achieve and we are very open to support, assistance and ideas from any quarter of the community," Mr Pawson said.

ENDS

For further information please contact John Pawson 03 443 9049 email john@riverrun.co.nz or John Wellington 03 443 8183 email john.julie@xtra.co.nz

By: Sarah