Contract negotiations are underway with a sculptor chosen by Creative Tauranga to create the Hairy Maclary and Friends sculpture trail through the city's central business district.

The Hairy Maclary and Friends Sculpture Project is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1million, with additional funds needed for ongoing maintenance.

Creative Tauranga chief executive Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell hopes the Hairy Maclary bronze sculpture trail will be complete for the literary figure's 30^th birthday in 2013.

Creative Tauranga chief executive Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell hopes to announce who the chosen bronze sculptor is in late February so that the project can keep moving forward.

'It's hoped we can raise the necessary funds by the middle of 2012 and have the sculptures in place by Hairy Maclary's 30^th birthday in 2013,” says Tracey.

The planned bronze sculptures will depict a selection of characters from Dame Lynley Dodd's acclaimed Hairy Maclary books including Hairy Maclary and Scarface Claw.

Tracey says the sculpture trail has the potential to be a key tourist attraction and form part of Taranga's new waterfront development.

The exact location is yet to be decided by Tauranga City Council.

Economic development agency Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker says the Hairy Maclary project dovetails into the city's waterfront redevelopment plans.

'Ultimately the sculptures would support a vibrant waterfront hub, positioned beside tourist operators, recreation activities, food and hospitality, events and markets,” says Andrew.

'The waterfront, in concert with Hairy Maclary, will provide increased visitation from a whole range of new people, and a significant economic boost to the city centre.”

TECT and Priority One have contributed seed funding to the project, which in part pays tribute to Dame Lynley, a Tauranga resident for more than 20 years.