(April 2025) The Fiordland Trails Trust has opted to put construction of the latest trail extension from Patience Bay to Sinclair Road on hold for winter, due to challenges around trail width and safety concerns.
The trail extension, which has been consented from the Upukerora River Trail Bridge to Boundary Creek, has been hit with a number of delays and challenges.
Original consents and agreements were obtained in mid-2022, and the first 2km from the Upukerora Trail Bridge to Patience Bay was officially opened in August 2024.
However, in early 2023 the Department of Conservation determined that the Trust needed to obtain a Wildlife Permit and submit a lizard management plan to extend the trail past Patience Bay. The Trust did so, enlisting a herpetologist, and spending upwards of $60,000 in the process.
A Wildlife Permit was issued in mid-2024, which outlined several required steps including a modified vegetation clearance method, and ensuring the trail formation width was no more than 2.2m (the Trust had original consent for a 3m formation width).
Now, more than 70 percent of the next part of the trail – 2km of trail from Patience Bay to Sinclair Road – has been completed, however there are three pinch points where the 2.2m trail width cannot satisfy the Trust’s safety concerns and allow for safe, two-way travel.
Having followed through on all obligations in the Lizard Management Plan and not finding any evidence of Southland Green Skink (which triggered the need for such a plan), in December 2024 the Trust sought an amendment to allow construction to the originally consented 3m trail formation.
That amendment has not yet been approved and, with winter approaching, the Trust has opted to hit pause on trail construction.
FTT Chair David Boniface said he acknowledged there was public frustration with the delays, but the Trust found itself in a difficult situation. It was extremely mindful of its responsibilities regarding flora and fauna, and it was also conscious of its responsibilities to the public to construct a safe, two-way trail – which was simply not possible within the 2.2m restrictions.
“We have done everything we can regarding lizard management, and we’re very mindful of our obligations in this space,” he said.
“However, there has been no evidence at all of presence of the Southland Green Skink in the area, and the handful of tussock skinks we have come across have been relocated to an area we’ve specifically constructed for them.”
“We’ve constructed as much trail as we can within the 2.2m restrictions, but there are three pinch points where that simply wouldn’t allow for safe, two-way travel on the trail. We are extremely hopeful the amendment we have applied for will be approved, and we have no evidence that an additional 800mm would impact on fauna, but for now, and with winter approaching and the safety of contractors in mind, we have no choice but to put current work on hold.”
Mr Boniface said it was important the public stayed off the trail that was under development.
“The public are welcome to enjoy the trail from Te Anau to Patience Bay, but we ask that you stop there,” he said.
“We remain hopeful that, coming into spring, we’ll be able to get back into construction, and have a safe, two-way travel to Sinclair Road open to the public soon after.”
The trail extension is part of the Trust’s wider goal to eventually construct a multi-use trail from Te Anau to Te Anau Downs.
