After many months of intensive planning and fundraising, work officially started today (Wednesday) on the restoration of the historic old Lower Shotover Bridge.

"We are absolutely delighted that today marks the beginning of this terrific undertaking," Rotary Shotover Bridge Restoration Trust trustee Angus Welsh said.

The moment was duly celebrated at the bridge today with a 'wee dram'.

The old bridge was opened in 1915 and became redundant in 1975 with the opening of the new bridge. It has since been closed off due to its dilapidated and dangerous state.

The $700,000 restoration project is the brainchild of the Queenstown Rotary Club and marks their most ambitious community project in the history of the club.

The restoration has been planned to coincide with the centennial of the international institution of Rotary in 2005 and create the perfect link between trails on the Wakatipu Trails Trust network.

"The project has only become a reality with some major funding contributions," Mr Welsh said.

In particular, he said the Trust was grateful to Central Lakes Trust ($200,000), Community Trust of Southland ($200,000) and the Queenstown Lakes District Council ($150,000).

"We are still hoping to attract some additional funding but at this stage we were in a position to award a tender to Fulton Hogan and commence work," Mr Welsh said.

Rotary planned to open the fully restored bridge in June 2005 to coincide with the national rotary conference, to be held at Queenstown.

Once restored it is anticipated the bridge will become a tourist attraction with foot, cycle and horse traffic.

ENDS

For further information please contact Angus Welsh  441 0461.

By: Kiri