The Coromandel Great Walks Project has been awarded a $1 million grant by the Lotteries Significant Project Fund.

Funding from the Government's Lottery Significant Projects Fund is towards the first walk, which route goes through Public Conservation Land, council reserve and Stella Evered Reserve Land.

The Government's Lottery Significant Projects Fund has awarded a $1 million grant to the Coromandel Great Walks Project. Photo: TCDC

The Coromandel Great Walks Project aims to link the whole district from east and west coasts and across the spine of the Coromandel.

When finished it will link the Purangi Estuary through to Hot Water Beach, further north past Whitianga and Kuaotunu and further south towards Tairua, Pauanui and on down to Whangamata.

Mayor Glenn Leach says they are absolutely thrilled with the decision.

'This is a visionary project developed in a collaborative partnership with local iwi (Ngati Hei) and DOC and getting capital funding from government vindicates our strategy.”

'This is such good news for the Coromandel, it supports our tourism industry, it ties in with appreciation of our biodiversity, it will showcase our cultural heritage with iwi and will have health benefits. This funding is a great kick-start.”

The Lottery Significant Projects Fund Committee felt ‘the project aligned with the Fund's priorities and criteria' and ‘contributes to the national outcomes of the Fund's specified areas'.

For this first walk council has set aside $1.25m, with DOC also committing $450,000 to the project. Council is also awaiting funding decisions from other external organisations.

The next steps will be the Walks Governance Group meeting to define a work plan.

'We are also meeting regularly with the Hahei community and its' Stakeholder Working Group,” says Glenn, 'who are providing feedback and input from a community perspective.”

'We have informed them of the news and will be meeting with the group to go over the work plan for the walk and short and long-term resolutions around dealing with increasing visitor numbers to this area.”

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Great Walks Project webpage.