Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway Group
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The Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway Group, New Zealand, was registered as an Incorporared Society in December 2003 and registered with Charities Services in 2008[citation needed] The Group was set up in response to land development issues along the Clutha River / Mata-Au corridor,[1] much of which has high scenic and recreational values. The project aims to establish a regional river parkway, including a river trail, along the entire 338 km river corridor from Lake Wānaka to the Pacific Ocean.
The mission statement of the group is: 'To protect and improve the natural, recreational, and cultural values of the Clutha Mata-Au River corridor, from Lake Wānaka to the Pacific, by establishing a Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway, including a Clutha River Trail, with an integrated management body to safeguard the public interest with a long-term vision.'[citation needed]
The Parkway Group is working with trail-focused community groups such as the Clutha Gold Trail Trust,[2] and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust,[3][4] to create a contiguous trail that is expected to attract tourists, bringing economic benefits to the region and facilitating further river corridor improvements such as native restoration.
The Clutha Mata-Au River is New Zealand's largest and most powerful river. It carves 338 km from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean, traversing the semi-desert interior of Otago known as Central Otago.
The waters of the Clutha Mata-Au are clear turquoise in the upper reaches, a characteristic that results from glacial and snow-melt filtering by upland lakes, especially Lake Wānaka. In global terms this is rare, because glacially fed rivers are normally discoloured by rock flour. The Clutha Mata-Au is also often listed among the world's swiftest rivers.[citation needed]