The Fiordland Trails Trust members are both relieved and excited after an additional 13km of Lake2Lake Trail has finally been given the green light.
Chairman David Boniface said yesterday the decision was one they had waited a long time for, as the work for the extension had been on hold since January last year.
At the time, the Department of Conservation requested them to have a wildlife permit and a lizard management plan for the area.
"We had to employ a specialist herpetologist and complete a lizard study.
"We had to compile a lizard management plan, and it's been backwards and forwards to Doc several times. We've now got it finally over the line. It's cost us quite a lot of money for this extra step but we take our responsibilities very seriously."
Mr Boniface said as part of the permit they would also include a modified vegetation clearance method, and would ensure the trail formation width was no more than 2.2m.
"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."
With the permit they could now move forward, he said.
The idea was to complete the 2km trail extension from Te Anau to Sinclair Rd by Christmas and then they would be fundraising to complete the remaining 11km.
The extension of the 2km would cost about $200,000, he said.
"We have funding in place for the completion up to Sinclair Rd, but we don't have all of the money in place to get to Boundary Creek.
"We'd like to raise probably in the vicinity of $800,000."
He believed the extension of the trail would benefit not only the residents but also tourists.
A report done by Angus and Associates last year indicated that the benefits of a trail from Cascade Creek to Te Anau would bring 70,000 users a year and about $17 million a year, he said.
"This extension is just a progression of what we've really got in place. We plan to get to Te Anau Downs one day and link with the trails that the Milford Opportunities Group are planning."
At present the trail — which cost about $1.8m to build — is about 35km long, he said.
Once fully complete, this next piece of trail would make a great bike ride, walk, or run, from Boundary Creek to Te Anau, then connecting with the Lake2Lake Trail and heading all the way to Manapouri.
"At the Fiordland Trails Trust, we're 10 enthusiastic trustees who have progressed 35km so far in the last seven years, and we are just pushing on as funds become available and as we get permission."
