Fiordland Trails Trust to Extend Multiuse Trail by 13km

• Fiordland Trails Trust is extending the trail by 13km, including a 2km extension to Sinclair Road.
• The Trust faced delays due to the need for a Wildlife Permit and lizard management plan.
• Completion is expected by Christmas, with plans to eventually reach Boundary Creek.

The Fiordland Trails Trust has announced the approval of a 13km extension to its multiuse trail, with a 2km section to Sinclair Road expected to be completed by Christmas. This extension has faced numerous delays since mid-2022, mainly due to the need for a Wildlife Permit and a lizard management plan, which were only recently secured.

The Trust is committed to protecting native flora and fauna, as demonstrated by its extensive planting, predator control, and weed management efforts. David Boniface, the Chair of the Fiordland Trails Trust, stated, “We take the protection of endangered species very seriously and, as per our Wildlife Permit, will be taking important steps to ensure we continue this as we develop this next part of the trail.” This commitment includes a modified vegetation clearance method and a reduction in trail width to 2.2m from the initially consented 3m.

Despite the setbacks, the Trust is eager to proceed with the new trail. Boniface mentioned, “We had been allowed to progress the trail from the Upukerora Trail Bridge to Patience Bay, as that sat outside of the area of potential concern, and we’ve already seen such wonderful usage and comments from the community about that – so we know the next 13km of trail will be a really positive addition.”

After the 2km extension to Sinclair Road is complete, the Trust will focus on fundraising and other logistics to extend the trail by an additional 11km to Boundary Creek. Boniface highlighted the economic benefits of the trail, saying, “We’ve seen, from the Impact Assessment we undertook in 2023, that the Lake2Lake Trail has a direct economic contribution to the Fiordland area exceeding $3million, so the more we can do to enhance the trail experience the better.”