Case Study 8.1: Otago Central Rail Trail

The Otago Central Rail Trail is a good case study of a collaborative, regional heritage initiative that has successfully drawn on external sources to maximise benefits to the individual small towns and communities along the route.

First proposed in the early 1990s, the 150-kilometre trail was developed and funded by the Department of Conservation and the Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust following the closure of the Central Otago Branch Railway. Officially opened in 2000, the trail stretches between Clyde and Middlemarch, taking in the communities of Alexandra, Ophir, Omakau, Lauder, Ranfurly and Hyde and the unique landscapes in between. The trail attracts more than 16,500 visitors a year and brings millions of dollars into the region’s economy.

Despite some early local opposition and cynicism, the trail’s success has seen it gain strong local support. It has been widely credited with revitalising the small towns and communities along the route, where new businesses, services and industries have established (often in heritage buildings) to cater to the growing number of visitors, helping local economies diversify from their traditionally agricultural focus. Being part of a collective initiative has increased the viability of these small communities and delivered benefits they would have been unlikely to achieve had they acted independently.

The Otago Central Rail Trail features a variety of heritage infrastructure and places.

PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES JUBB This revitalisation and investment has had positive outcomes for heritage buildings and other assets in the towns and settlements along the trail, where communities have come to better appreciate the value of the region’s heritage and its unique landscapes and their attractiveness to visitors. A growing number of heritage buildings and structures have been restored, reinforcing the heritage character of both the trail and the individual communities along the route. Heritage has now become a key part of the identities of these places.

In addition to these positive economic and heritage outcomes, the Otago Central Rail Trail has been credited with a range of other benefits, including an enhanced sense of pride, place and identity, increased social interaction, and expanded recreation opportunities for local communities. It has been so successful as a way of revitalising small towns and communities that it influenced the Government’s decision to construct the New Zealand Cycle Trail in 2010. It is a model being emulated by many other communities around the country.