The Paparoa National Park featuring a 9km side track to the Pike River Mine site itself. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Paparoa National Park Management Plan has been approved, paving the way for the creation of the Pike 29 great walk and mountain bike track.
The plan was fast-tracked to allow work to start early next year.
The review was announced last November. Public submissions were heard in mid-August
in Greymouth.
The $10 million, 65km traverse through the Paparoa National Park will follow part of the existing Croesus Track and the Pororari River Track, as well as featuring a 9km side track to the Pike River Mine site itself.
The Department of Conservation expects to start construction in the early part of next year.
It will be the country's 10th great walk.
The New Zealand Conservation Authority approved the plan this week, but stated it required some changes.
"The NZCA will formally notify the Director-General of DoC and the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board of its approval and associated conditions today," executive officer Rick McGovern-Wilson said.
"Every endeavour will be made to complete these steps as quickly as possible so that a public announcement can be made, if possible, before the weekend."
The plan threw up a raft of issues including access to caves, whether bolted climbs should be allowed and whether additional land should be considered for addition to the park.
It also proposed allowing e-bikes on the Pike 29 trail, a new issue DoC has found itself grappling with.
- Greymouth Star
