$NZ1.8m and $NZ3.7m for New Zealand tourism projects.
A New Zealand West Coast community trust has been granted $1.8 million to develop a valley as an eco-tourism attraction.
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the funding yesterday to develop facilities in the Oparara Valley in the Kahurangi National Park near Karamea.
Miss Clark, on a visit to the area, said the valley was home to several rare species including the blue duck, the great spotted kiwi, the short-tailed bat and the Powelliphanta snail.
She said the Oparara Valley Trust had opened a mountain-biking track in 2003 and had now developed plans to open new tracks, conserve historic gold workings, restore an old sawmill site and build picnic, parking and toilet facilities.
Miss Clark said, “The Oparara Valley project will develop and enhance the area to become a major eco-tourism attraction and it would also create jobs for locals.”
The grant comes from the Significant Community Based Projects Fund – set up last year for “large and important” community projects.
Miss Clark also announced $3.7 million from the Internal Affairs Department-administered fund for a Chinese garden in Dunedin.
Report by The Mole
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