New Porirua/Tawa MTB trails (help us build 10.5km’s of “WOW”)

$2,440 of $14,000 goal

Given by 41 generous donors in around 3 months

We’re about to build some amazing new trails that will lift our park to a “must do” Destination Park for international and local visitors.

Wellington

We’re about to build some amazing new trails! These will lift our park from 9kms of trails to a “must do” Destination Park for international, national and local visitors, of around 20kms of quality trails. We’re pumped that we’re now ready to dig these special trails after a thorough public consultation, a rigorous environmental impact assessment and an in-depth design/specification phase.

The Climb

5.5km easy/intermediate trail starting at Camp Elsdon (50m elevation) ending through the stunning Porirua Scenic reserve surrounds to a lookout point with vistas to die for (345m elevation).

Intermediate descent

It will be the biggest gravity fix in the region with 3.5kms of MTB-only down single-track. The variety of vegetation will blow your mind! From Low scrub, to massive old shady native forest, open grass hillsides with rock crops, gum groves and then pines to finish it off with some BIG flow.

1.5km Expert descent

There will be nothing like it! Starting off next to regenerating native surrounds and the Porirua Harbor in the backdrop while it descends through scrub with a few rock crops scatted among. It seamlessly switches in and out of sections featuring a few gum and pine trees before you are spat out at the bottom. This will be sure to smoke your brakes and have you grinning.

How fast we build this trail depends on how quickly we get these funds. Please consider helping by contributing. Whether it is a dollar or $50, it all helps make this project a reality.

MCG is a charitable organisation therefore you can claim up to 1/3 back in tax credit

There are also a few limited opportunities for some businesses to get some sponsorship signage and be associated with this high-profile community project that will transform the image of Porirua!

We have another 30kms of consented plans after this that could be built if we had the funds. If you wish to sponsor this project, please email mcgmana@gmail.com with contact details, or call Kevin 0276920794. Support could include funding, materials or corporate team building work parties.

Thank You

Mana Cycle Group Committee

www.manacyclegroup.org.nz

About us

MCG are here to improve Porirua's quality of life and increase visitors to the region. Trails and cycle connections in the Mana and Tawa area

Use of funds

Donate now to support the project, funds will be used on the likes of contractors, tools, equipment and other resources. It will be the best investment you ever make!

Latest update

MCG committed to free public access to trails 28 March 2017

Firstly, a huge thanks to those that have already supported our fundraising campaign and the awesome comments and encouragement attached to those are extremely rewarding.

You may have seen the announcement of a planned adventure park being developed in Porirua. There have been several questions asked like: what that means for our park, will it mean more restricted access than currently available, what will it mean for the existing trails and for the ones being built, and what are MCG’s thoughts on it?

Based on the limited detail we have, and the fact some of the information is still confidential, we believe the plans for an adventure park are still in the very early concept stage and there is no certainty that they will proceed. But from what we know, there is a strong willingness to make it happen.

MCG’s vision has been for a destination trail park on Rangatui-Colonial Knob parklands and surrounds for several years. We see it as positive if someone wants to come along and invest into that vision and beyond. Having said that we MCG have some core values which we believe are crucial to the success of the park: 1) Access must be free and available to those on foot and bikes except where it is unsafe to share an area e.g. downhill trails, 2) Any development should have a positive influence on the environs especially the stunning two scenic reserves, 3) Connection to the local communities is crucial, 4) The park should cater for all capabilities and skills 5) Park development should add value to Porirua as a destination.

MCG will be strongly advocating for these values to be upheld in any future development be it by ourselves, the council, or a developer. From what we know of the proposed developer and development, their plans and goals are consistent with these values and the discussions we had was about free access to all but paying for a chairlift or other possible facilities. The developer loved the trails we had already created and is aware of our plans.

We have done a huge amount of groundwork towards a master plan of around 50km’s of trails and while there is still uncertainty in what may happen in the future, it is important that we press on as fast as possible knowing that our trails have been planned in such a way that they will add huge value to any future development.

The trails we are developing now, and fundraising towards, are key trails in the parks infrastructure and will remain so. With more funds available, we could fast track other significant projects which are every bit as good as the current planned developments and will make this a phenomenal park and a fantastic MTB destination. In particular, we are looking ahead to some trails that utilise the massive elevation that the park has.

If you can help towards this, have ideas which could help, or know someone passionate about mountain biking that could help, please feel free to contact us so that we can share our plans and the next step of this vision with you. Alternatively, you could help by chucking a few bucks into our give-a-little campaign. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/poriruatawanewtrails

Thanks and enjoy the ride - which is starting to look pretty exciting.

Kevin Gwynn

President Mana Cycle Group

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