Work has been halted on the new 2km Patience Bay to Sinclair Road section of the Fiordland Trails Trust's (FTT) northern multi-trail extension, after three 'pinch points' were identified, making it unsafe for bikes to pass each other.

The FTT is a community led group that created the popular 28km Lake2Lake multipurpose trail between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. The trail is now credited with attracting thousands of visitors annually and contributing millions of dollars to the local economy. The Trust is now actively working on extending its off-road network from Te Anau to Te Anau Downs.

The Sinclair Road section has been particularly challenging and expensive for the Trust with a Wildlife Permit, lizard management plan and a narrower 2.2m track all required after the Department of Conservation (DOC) deemed the area to potentially contain the at-risk Southland Green Skink.

A yet to be completed section of the new Patience Bay to Sinclair Road multi-trail. Photo: Fiordland Trails Trust/Supplied

FTT Chair David Boniface said the decision to stop construction had been frustrating as the section had been just 3 weeks away from being completed, however the Trust was committed to safety and its environmental responsibilities.

The 'pinch points' were not long, with only one culvert crossing of about 80 meters, and two switchbacks that were about 40 or 50 meters each, he said.

Boniface was confident that if the trail was allowed to be widened back to its original width, or even just over the three tight points, then the section could be completed.

With that in mind, the Trust decided in December to apply for an amendment to their permit, to revert the whole section's width back to its original 3 meters, after relocating only a "handful' of tussock skinks" and finding "no evidence at all of the presence of the Southland Green Skink".

"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."

"We would love to have the section from Sinclair Road to Patience Bay up and running before Christmas."

A special enclosure has been established - as part of Fiordland Trails Trust's Wildlife Permit - to rehome any lizards found, but to date the Trust has only relocated a handful of Tussock Skinks and found none of the threatened Southland Green Skink. Photo: Southland App

"But for now, and with winter approaching and the safety of contractors in mind, we have no choice but to put [the] current work on hold,” he said.

“The public are welcome to enjoy the trail from Te Anau to Patience Bay, but we ask that you stop there,” Boniface said.