7 Dec 2017

Council chooses cheapest option for stalled cycle track

4:03 pm on 7 December 2017

Southland's council has chosen the cheapest option to finish a controversial cycle trail that has been stalled for several years.

Part of the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail in Southland.

Part of the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail in Southland. Photo: Around the Mountains Cycle Trail

The $10 million Around the Mountains Trail south of Queenstown has not been completed because of a major budget blowout and a court battle with Fish and Game over the route

The council lost the court case after spending almost $1 million in legal costs

Three options presented to the council yesterday ranged in cost from $120,000 to $4 million.

Councillors have chosen the simplest option, which would tidy up the existing sections and leave a fifth of the trail on public roads.

The council will put the decision out for public consultation early next year.

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