Hawea River Track – Official Opening – Sunday 2nd August
Hawea Bridge From Butterfield Reserve 9th July
The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust
is thrilled to announce the official opening of
The Hawea River Track
a fantastic project only made possible through the generous help and support of
Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust, Queenstown Lakes District Council,
Department of Conservation, Te Araroa Trust, NZTA, Lakes Environment Services Ltd
Peter & Dawn Ward, Forest Range Farms Ltd and many others,
so
please come and join us
to celebrate this already highly popular addition to our track network
1pm Sunday 2 August 2009
at the new Hawea River swingbridge
Vehicle access from the eastern side of the Albert Town bridge
Come prepared to walk or ride some of the track as a community celebration
Hawea River Track
Work continues on the Hawea Bridge as contractors Fulton Hogan prepare it for the official opening celebration on Sunday 2nd August. The bridge underwent a “load test” on Thursday 9th July which is a crucial stage in preparing it for public use. One of the ways the bridge was tested was by placing a large “balloon” on the centre of the bridge and pumping it full of river water – approximately 3 tonnes!
Hawea Bridge undergoing a Load Test 9th July 2009
The bridge passed with flying colours and there are only a few finishing touches required. These works should be completed by the end of next week (17th July).
The Trust hope that there will a good community turnout for the official opening to help us celebrate the completion of of our 1st major project.
The Hawea River Track was one of the “missing links” in the Te Araroa long distance track that will run from Cape Reinga To Bluff. The Te Araroa Track is scheduled to open in 2010 and the Tracks Trust is very proud to be associated with the project and to be able to complete the missing link.
Millennium Track
The Millennium Track is being extended from Ironside Trig to Glendhu Bay in 2 stages.
Stage 2
This is the section from Ironside Trig to Damper Bay and is being funded and managed by Otago Regional Council. The tender for this work was advertised a few months ago, and the Trust has been advised that subject to some further information being received, Otago Regional Council hope to let the contract in the next couple of weeks. It is anticipated that this section will be finished in early summer.
Stage 3
This is the section between Damper Bay and Glendhu Bay, and is being funded and managed by QLDC with assistance and support from the Tracks Trust and Department of Conservation. From a construction point of view, the hardest part of this track around the Bluffs at Damper Bay has already been completed and the rest of the track is currently under construction. It is hoped that this will be finished by early summer.
Track Under Construction At Damper Bay Bluffs
These two stages are also “missing links” in the Te Araroa Project, and again the Tracks Trust is proud to be able to be a part of the national project.
Albert Town to Luggate Track
This will run from Albert Town to Luggate on the true right of the Clutha River and cross the Cardrona River on a new bridge a few hundred metres upstream from the confluence of the Cardrona and Clutha Rivers. The bridge plans are completed and all the resource consents are in place. The project is being managed on behalf of the Tracks Trust by the Department of Conservation, and the tender to construct the bridge should be advertised later this month.
The challenging part of the track to build is just downstream from Albert Town at the Haliday Bluffs, but a track line has been identified through this terrain and continues close to the river until an easier route is available on the river terrace upstream from Stevenson’s Rd.
Hard track construction work ahead at Haliday Bluff Albert Town
The route from Stevensons Road to Short Cut Rd was marked with warratahs and signposted by DOC about 18 months ago and passes the Reko’s Point historic gold workings. This section will be upgraded later as part of the project.
Track from Stevensons Rd To Reko's Point
Carparks at Albert Town and near the Red Bridge have already been created for the track.
New car park at Albert Town
New car park Shortcut Rd Luggate
Clutha River near Shortcut Rd
NEW TRACK IDEAS
The Trust is always looking for suggestions for new tracks from the public. If you have any ideas or suggestions please contact Tim Dennis on
Upper Clutha Tracks Trust
03 443 5733 (evenings only)
PO Box 713, Wanaka
tim@southernlandckl.co.nz
Support Us
We are a Registered Charitable Trust (1898188) and are registered with the new Charities Commission (CC38956). We welcome financial donations or donations of skills and services to assist us develop new walking and cycling tracks.
