Now, the use of a paper road – a publicly–owned strip of land without an actual road built on it – has been put forward as the new route of the trail.
But the paper road runs through private farms, and the possibility of a cycle path cutting through working farms has raised alarm.
One of two farmers who presented to a Tasman District Council committee last week said the proposal was “a permanent liability” to his operations and “environmental abuse”.
The trail would cut through six fields he uses to graze his sheep and cattle.
He said he was concerned about vehicle access, untraceable contaminants being brought on to his farm, slips and other damage to steep land stemming from the trail’s construction, disturbance to his stock during lambing season, and anti-social behaviour.
Another farmer said she runs sheep, cattle, and a “large bull” across her land.
She already transported stock in a truck across the “pretty busy” State Highway 6 between separate parcels of land, and the cycleway proposal would “effectively cut our farm in thirds”.
Risks of rocks falling from stony hills and springs that flow across the route made the proposal unsafe and unsuitable, she added.
“The proposed site that you are thinking about is going to really make it incredibly difficult for us.
“Farming’s already really, really hard, please, please do the right thing by us all.”
The farmers declined to comment further when approached by Local Democracy Reporting afterwards.
But supporters of the proposal also attended the meeting in force.
Ange van der Laan, Top of the South regional field adviser for the Outdoor Access Commission, acknowledged that landowners adjoining paper roads generally provide “excellent” maintenance of the land and benefit from its unchallenged and free use.
“Neither of these confers a right of occupation or ownership.”
However, she also said it was “very important” to work with adjoining landowners, and highlighted that they have the opportunity to agree to alternative trail alignments that might be less disruptive.
Flooding during last winter heavily damaged the Great Taste Trail near Wai-iti, in some cases beyond repair. Photo / Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust
Trails on paper roads that otherwise cut through working farms exist in other areas of the country, van der Laan added.
Nicky McBride, tour director at Wheelie Fantastic Cycle Tours, said the cycle tour market was competitive, with the Great Taste Trail being one of the nation’s 22 Great Rides.
On-road sections were unpopular, and the on-road detour route on the trail had seen people shorten or cancel their tours, limiting the contribution they would otherwise make to the regional economy, she said.
The Nelson Tasman Cycling Trails Trust oversees the Great Taste Trail, and chair Gillian Wratt agreed, highlighting the independent estimate of $34 million of regional benefits for the 2024-24 year.
Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust chair Gillian Wratt said she wanted to engage with the farmers on the best options and that the trust would fund any required fencing and gates to keep cyclists separate. Photo / Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust
More than half a million “passes” had been clocked by trail counters in the past year, and feedback regularly reinforced that users dislike the on-road sections.
Formalising the on-road detour as the actual route of the trail would be a “big step backwards”, and the paper road was the “only viable option”, she told the council.
Acknowledging that taking the route down the paper road would create “some challenges” for farmers, she also said that other sections of the trail successfully go through farms.
The trust would engage with farmers to work out the “best option we can” and would provide the necessary fencing and gates to keep the trail contained.
“We are very open to discussing alignment adjustments as … can be made with affected landowners if there are places that they think would be less disruptive to their farming activities.”
At the end of last Tuesday’s Environment, Operations, and Regulatory Committee, the council considered the route of the Great Taste Trail behind closed doors.
Transportation manager Jamie McPherson subsequently told Local Democracy Reporting that the risks, costs, and benefits of several potential routes have been assessed.
“Further work is now required to negotiate agreements with landowners.
“This will take time, but we look forward to working through this and bringing the trail back to life so all of the social, recreational and economic benefits of the trail can be achieved.”
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air