However, Stephen Jeffrey, who last week was elected chairman of the Roxburgh Gorge Charitable Trust, which will take over governance of the project from the Central Otago District Council, said confirmation of government funding was only another step along the path towards making the cycle trail a reality.
"Don't get me wrong; it is good news to have the funding there but there are still plenty of hurdles to get through yet," Mr Jeffrey said.
That included negotiating easements for the 11 private properties, and Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand and Contact property the trail would go through, he said.
The Roxburgh Gorge trail, which will be built on the State Highway 8 side of Lake Roxburgh, between Alexandra and Roxburgh, was given $2 million of government funding on Thursday, under Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail project.
The 34km trail is expected to cost $3.3 million, with the trust tasked with finding the rest of the money.
The trail would be a boost to the district, Mr Jeffrey said.
