The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust was looking to explore opportunities to create a walking and cycling route between Hilltop and Akaroa, an extension of Te Ara Pātaka (Summit Walkway), which they manage alongside other organisations.
The Trust engaged Xyst to undertake a mainly high-level desktop exercise to scope out potential route options after undertaking background research. To help inform this work a number of stakeholders were to be interviewed for their views on a trail extension, both benefits and opportunities, to identify any routes already considered and to understand any concerns or impacts that could be a consequence if the trail were to developed.
A site visit was included to assess on-ground feasibility. The final report outlined the desktop findings, summarised the stakeholder feedback, provided an analysis of the suitable route options and made a recommendation of the optimal trail route to be considered for development.
