Tourism fears as Nelson Tasman bike trail faces ‘months’ of flood repairs

A bike trail considered vital to the Nelson Tasman tourist industry has been badly damaged by last week's floods and may take months to repair.

A full survey of the 200 kilometre network is still underway, but "significant damage" to the tourist bike track is already clear. Initial assessments show 30 kilometres of the popular Great Taste Trail has been affected.

The Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust said: "The worst-hit areas include the stretch from Wakefield through to Hoult Valley Road, and the Wai-iti section through to Quail Valley Road.

"There is also major damage from the Spooners Tunnel through to Kohatu where the trail runs adjacent to the State Highway, and in Ngatimoti where the trail follows the Motueka River."

It added most of the trail’s bridging infrastructure has held up well, with the exception of the bridge crossing the Wai-iti River.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith has already called on the Government for help to repair the trail.

"There is no standard mechanism for support for the repair of that," he told TVNZ's Breakfast yesterday.

"The Government's wanting the tourism industry to recover. That cycleway is critical to it and we're going to have to get some support to get that cycleway repaired."

The trust has made similar comments: "Support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, via the NZ Cycle Trails Extreme Weather Response Fund, will be critical in helping to finance the recovery and ensure the long-term resilience of the trail."

It's waiting for water levels to recede further in some places before a full assessment can be carried out.

Trail Manager Belinda Crisp said: “While some sections will be relatively straightforward to repair, others will require more complex planning and construction, likely taking months rather than weeks.”

The Trust is working closely with contractors and local operators to prioritise repairs and reopen sections of the trail as soon as possible.

It wants to see the whole trail ready to go again in time for the summer season.

The organisation emphasised how important the cycle track is to the community and local businesses, saying: “We’re committed to restoring it safely and as quickly as possible.”