June 27, 2019
Whale Trail boost for Marlborough economy
A proposed new cycle and walking trail at the top of the South island has got a $322,000 boost from the Provincial Growth Fund to enable a technical study to be completed.
The Whale Trail, which stretches 200 kilometres from Picton to Kaikoura, has been in the planning stage since the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
Its name is a nod to the enormous success of the whale watching industry in Kaikoura, the historic importance of whaling in the Marlborough Sounds, and it also describes the whales' migratory path down the east coast of the South Island.
Marlborough Kaikoura Trail Trust chair, Luke van Velthooven, says the trust's vision is a world-class cycle trail that offers exceptional recreational experiences as well as benefits for the communities along the way.
An initial study estimated the trail could pump more than $100 million into the Marlborough economy over the next 20 years.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com