The Otaketake Trail
Closing the Loop
Client: Bike Taupo
The Otaketake Trail project saw ROAM develop a robust business case for the advancement of an important 12 kilometre trail link, creating a new 30 kilometre loop known as the Otaketake Loop, on the Great Lake Trails around Lake Taupo.
Bike Taupo’s master trail builders had long held the ambition to get cyclists off a dangerous stretch of road and link up two sections of the Great Lake Trails – the Orakau and the K2K – to create an epic 30 kilometre loop ride starting and finishing in the lakeside village of Kinloch. ROAM was engaged to develop the business case and prepare resource consent applications for this project. The result was a new section of sweet singletrack that allows riders to head out of Kinloch and up to the start of the Orakau Trail without having to ride on the road. Taking riders off the main highway and onto the safety of an off-road trail was a key driver for this project.
The business case considered environmental, cultural, social and economic outcomes as well as aligning with key strategic and regulatory direction. This involved evaluation of district and regional plans, long term plans and the iwi management plan for Lake Taupo.
ROAM also built the practicalities of the project into the business case, working with Bike Taupo’s trail building experts to define a buildable route for the new trail and determine trail management and governance structures. The business case also required sound construction and maintenance costs to be established and the development of user projections to inform the cost benefit analysis. Rowan was able to draw on his years of experience carrying out trail feasibility assessments to generate this data.
As a result of the strong business case, MBIE agreed to fund the development of the new trail and the next phase of the project began.
ROAM prepared the resource consent applications required to enable construction of the new trail. This included the development of a construction management plan that identified erosion and sediment management processes and cultural protocols. Resource consents were granted by the Waikato Regional Council and the trail was developed in 2019.
Storyboards
Once the trail was completed, Marion developed content and sourced images for storyboard signs along the length of the new trail and the wider Great Lake Trails. These storyboards capture the unique natural values and histories of the Lake Taupo area and tell some of the stories of those who constructed the trails.
The Otaketake Trail project was somewhat of a passion project for ROAM, with the Great Lake Trails on their back doorstep. ROAM is honoured to be part of creating amazing places for people to ride, helping people access the beautiful bush surrounding Lake Taupo and allowing them to experience new places in this little corner of paradise.
If you need help getting your trail project off the ground, give Rowan a call or flick him an email and have an initial discussion about the possibilities!
Rowan Sapsford
M: +64 021 744 957
