Southland's Around the Mountains cycle trail was one of the first to be funded as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail by the Government.
However the project is millions of dollars over budget, amidst court battles and stoushes with landowners.
The trail begins in Queenstown aboard the TSS Earnslaw steamship, the journey continues on bike from Walter Peak, for what should be a 182km ride along Southland's spectacular mountain ranges.
Seven years on, the trail is still not finished and ratepayers are angry about a budget blowout, with the council's bill now tipping $10 million.
"There's been a stop on that. The council decided that that's it. Other than maintenance there'd be no further money spent on it," says Southland District Mayor Gary Tong.
Almost $1 million has been spent fighting court battles with Fish & Game, who opposed plans to build a stretch of track beside the upper Oreti river.
Fish & Game say this is a world famous trout fishing area, and want the council to divert the route.
The Around the Mountains trail also crosses various properties, 20 landowners were happy to allow access but two unhappy farmers near Athol responded by locking gates along the route.
Lumsden publican Tim Hanna says that has caused many cyclists to give up in frustration.
"Anything from extreme disappointment to absolute rage. People who've had to lift their brand new bikes over a gate and scratch the paint," he says.
"People who've had to unpack all of their kit and repack it."
He says those cycle trail visitors leave with a bad taste.
"Those people don't go home and tell good stories about our rail trail. They're angry."
A recent land swap to re-route the track is aimed at fixing the problem.
Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay also wants to see the bleeding stopped, while ensuring the trail doesn't become a white elephant.
"There's not much money left to be able to complete the trail. They should seal it off where it is at, maybe hook it up to the road. And then start marketing that," he says.
The council's expected to make a final decision next month.
Newshub.
